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AUTHOR: 


ERWIN,  JAMES 


TITLE: 


REMINISCENCES 

EARLY  CIRCUIT .. 


PLACE: 


TOLEDO 


DATE: 


1884 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


Master  Negative  # 


BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARGET 


Original  Material  as  Filmed  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


938.69 

Er94 


Ervrin,   Jainos, 

Reminiscences  of  early  circuit  life  ••• 
Toledo,  0.,  Spear,  1884. 

xiii,   378  p.     fi-ont.  (port.) 


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V 


JAMES    ERWIN. 


REMINISCENCES 


OP 


EARLY  CIRCUIT  LIFE, 


BT 


REV.   JAMES  ERWIN, 


OF 


Central   New  York  Conference. 


I   tm 


"That  I  may  publish  with  the  voice  of  Thanksgiving,  and  tell 
of  all  thy  wondrous  works.'  — Ps.  XXVI. -7. 

"We  will  nc>t  b'ide  fh^  Vijorn  ItKeii;  jchildren,  showing  to  the 
generation  to  come  \Pie* 'praises*  «oT  .'ti^e  ]-ord,  and  his  strength, 
and   his  wor.der+u'   works *fhel*  Kfe'.IXatK  .cione." — Ps.  LXXVIII.-4. 


••       •••... 

' 

•      '    **  ^*\J 

•  •  '■  ••  ■•.  V 

TOLEDO,  OHIO: 

Spear 

Johnson  &  Co,,  Printers, 

1884. 

J  73 


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4 


TO 

THE  MINISTRY  AND  LAITY 

OF 
THE  CENTRAL  AND  NORTHERN  NEW  YORK  CONFERENCES 

of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  within  whose 

bounds  I  have  Spent  Over  Half  a  Century 

in    the  Master's    Vineyard  ; 

AND  ESPECIALLY. 

To  the  Churches  and   Districts  which  I  have  been 

permitted  to  serve,    is  this  Volume 

cordially  and  affectionately 

DEDICATED 

in  gratitude  for  their  fatherly  guidance,  Christian 

forbearance  and  brotherly  sympathy  and  love, 

and  with  a  blessed   hope  of  a  glorious 

reunion  in  the  Resurrection 

Morning, 

By  their  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

JAMES  ERWIN. 


PREFACE. 


Some  of  the  incidents  of  this  vohime  were  occasionally  used 
as  illustrations  in  the  course  of  my  ministry.  Brethren  would 
often  solicit  them  for  publication,  but  I  never  thought  them 
of  sufficient  importance  for  the  public  eye.  Ministers  and 
others  whose  judgment  I  greatly  respected,  urged  the  matter 
so  earnestly  that  I  began  fo  feel  that  perhaps  I  ought  to  yield 
to  their  solicitations.  Two  of  my  most  intimate  and  judicious 
friends,  whose  opinions  had  great  weight  with  me,  viz  :  Doctor 
Hiram  Mattison  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Vandercook,  were  very  urgent 
in  the  case,  and  kindly  requested  me  either  to  put  them  in 
manuscrii)t  myself,  or  give  them  the  outline  and  they  would 
prepare  them  for  the  press.  I  finally  consented,  that  if  God 
should  spare  my  life,  till  I  had  leisure  from  the  pressing  duties 
of  large  and  responsible  churches,  I  would  prepare  them  for 
one  of  the  church  papers.  About  a  year  ago  Rev.  Doctor 
Warren,  editor  of  the  Xortheni  ChriMlan  Advocate,  requested 
me  to  prepare  a  series  of  articles,  giving  my  recollections  of 
early  times,  and  being  at  that  time  pastor  of  a  small,  intelligent 
church  where  I  had  more  time  for  mental  labor  than  at  any 
former  period  of  my  busy  life,  I  concluded  that  the  time  had 
come  for  me  to  fulfil  my  promise  to  my  dear  departed  brethren. 
The  articles  were  kindly  received  by  the  public.  Many  wrote 
commendatory  testimonials  and  urged  me  to  continue  the 
articles  and  put  them  in  book  form.  The  Central  New  York 
Conference,  the  Cazenovia  District  Conference,  and  many 
distinguished  men  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  urged 
their  publication  in  a  volume.  Thus,  without  any  design  on 
my  part,  I  was  led  to  comply  with  their  request. 


Reviiniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life.  v 

About  one-third  of  the  matter  contained  in  this  volume 
was  published  in  the  columns  of  the  Northern  Chmtian  Advo^ 
cate;  the  other  two-thirds  will  meet  the  public  eye  on  these 
pages  for  the  first  time.  With  great  hesitancy  and  distrust  of 
my  ability  to  interest  the  reeling  public,  I  have  vielded  to  the 
solicitation  of  my  friends,  to  call  up  from  the  almost  forgotten 
past,  some  facts  and  incidents  of  the  olden  times,  and  send 
out  this  unpretending  volume,  with  trembling  and  prayerful 
soUcitude,  hoping  that  with  the  divine  blessing  it  may  awaken 
thought  and  prayer,  lead  some  to  repentance,  and  help  others 
on  to  God. 

JAMES  ERWIN. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


PREPARATION    FOR   LIFE   WORK. 


Page 


Early  life— School— A  passion  for  souls— Sectarian  bigotry 

— Puritanism,         ••....! 

CHAPTER  II. 

BUSY   SCENES. 


The  boy  itinerant— Parish ville  circuit— Labors  abundant 

—Quarterly  meetings— Love  feast— Presiding  Elder's 

•    sermon  —  Ministerial    costume  —  Salary  —  Doctrinal 

preaching  —  Merchant    Street    meeting  —  Catching 

Chubbs,      ....... 


CHAPTER  III. 


CROSSING   SWORDS. 


Wrestling  with  difficulties— Elder  S.  and  the  pond  lilies 
—Sermon  on  Judas  Iscariot— Butler  Hubbard  casting 
out  devils  —  Opposition  to  the  meeting  —  Nearly 
drowning  a  woman  and  child  in  baptizing  them— 
Locked  in  the  school  house,       .... 

CHAPTER   IV. 

SHOCKS  FROM  THE  BATTERY. 

Sick  in  the  woods— Victory  in  prayer— Meeting  at  Quaker 
settlement— Quaker  families— Kneeling  in  prayer — 
The  "weeping  meeting  "—God's  acre— Helpers  in 
study, 


12 


25 


33 


Reminiseenc^s  of  Early  Circuit  Life.        vii 
CHAPTER  V. 


BREASTING     DANGERS. 

A  night  in  the  woods— Fording  the  river— Opening  on 
Sodom— Opposition  victory— Broke  up  a  ball— The 
:Methodists  opposed  to  drinking— The  anti-Masonic 
excitement— West  Stockholm  quarterly  meeting- 
Rev.  Squire  Chase,  the  Presiding  Elder— Rev.  Azariah 
Hall— Malone  camp  meeting— A  great  storm— Many 
converted— West  Stockholm  quarterly  meeting  a  great 
success, 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   FLYING    ARTILLERY. 

Malone  camp  meeting— A  message  from  God— Stirring 
appeal  by  a  child— Zealous  local  prea^'hers- Alarming 
dream— The  sleeping  preacher— Tlie  old  Calvinistic 
preacher— A  great  debate— Secret  praver  stirring  the 

village,        .  .  .  .         \ 

•  •  • 

CHAPTER  VII. 

CK)d's   hook    in   the  .IAW8. 

Early  camp  meetings— Matilda,  Canada  West— A  whole 
congregation  on  their  knees— Opposers  converted— A 
great  revival  in  "south  woods  "—Opposition— An 
enraged  man— Taking  leave  of  the  circuit— Gouver- 
neur  Circuit— Lyndon  King— Presbyterian  meeting  at 
Fullerville— Hyper-Calvinism— Mr.  P.'s  sermon— An 
insane  woman— A  Universalist  minister  in  trouble,  . 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

god's  workmen  successful. 

A  central  four  days  meeting— A  variety  of  talent— The 
working  force  of  the  circuit— Local  preachers  and 


51 


68 


83 


h^  ■'-  if 


viii        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

exhorters  not  .ignorant  men— Father  Abbott— The 
parish  minister— Rev.  Augustus  M.  Toplady— Rev. 
C.  H.  Spurgeon— Rev.  John  Seys— Four  days  meet- 
ing in  Edwards— The  potash  kettle— Large  school 
house— Crowds  attending— Ox  sleds— The  class  leader 
—Love  feast— Women  coming* twelve  miles  to  get 
religion  — Dinner  during  intermission  —  Converted 
during  sermon— A  hermit  converted— Judgment  over- 
takes a  bitter  opposer,      .....    103 

CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  GALILEAN   CONQUERS. 

A  cold  ride- A  kind  family— A  congregation  of  three 
persons— Isaac  Sprague's  conversion— Mr.  Finney's 
meeting  in  Gouverneur— A  personal  devil— Mischie- 
vous students— Meeting  at  Pike's  school  house— A 
prayer  test— Faith  victorious— An  infidel  converted— 
A  Baptist  deacon  rapturously  saved— Noisy  Baptists 
—Society  at  Gouverneur  poor— Preacher's  family 
suffering  from  hunger— Hoeing  potatoes— Hammond 
camp  meeting— Rev.  A.  J.  Phelps— A  deist  in  trouble 
—Mrs-  Harriet  King— Stinginess  rebuked  by  a  hen's 
egg» 122 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE   TWO   EDGED   SWORD— ITS   POINT   AND   POWER. 

Helping  the  Baptists  in  a  meeting— Elder  W.— Good 
work— They  did  not  keep  faith— Converts  joined  the 
Methodists  — A  colony  going  west  — A  successful 
meeting  in  Gouverneur— Joining  conference— Re- 
appointed to  Gouverneur  Circuit— Rev.  G.  C.  Wood- 
ruff, preacher  in  charge— Boarding  with  the  preacher 
—Staying  a  fortnight  with  Brother  S.— Great  nieeting 
at  Porteferry- Pointed  preaching— Great  break  down 
—Confession— Taking  up  the  stumbling  blocks- 
Sweeping  power— A  backslidden  Baptist  preacher 
reclaimed, 138 


Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life.         ix 
CHAPTER  XI; 


AGGRESSIVE   MOVEMENTS. 

Helping  Bro.  King  on  Canton  Circuit— Meeting  at  Buck's 
bridge— Fast  day— The  break  down — Mrs.  Horton— 
Amos  and  Mina  Whitney — Captain  Sherman — The 
love  feast — Summoned  from  the  pulpit  to  pray  for  a 
dying  man— Too  late — A  sad  funeral— Long  Rapids— 
A  hardened  opposer — A  lost  soul — Baptist  meeting 
at  Doren's  school  house — Holpin«r  them — Preaching 
in  a  cider  mill — A  sketc'li  of  the  sermon,         -  .    155 

CHAPTER  XII. 

OPPOSITION   POWERLESS. 

Sectarian  Jealousy — Inquiry  meeting — Keeping  order — 
Preaching  at  the  school  house — Capt.  Sherman  gather- 
ing a  congregation— Moving  power — Re-opening  the 
meeting  at  Buck's  Chapel — Converts  joining  the 
church — The  elder  disturbed — Meeting  continued — 
Elder  Paddock  a  sweet  singer — A  glorious  love  feast 
Long  Rapids  again — Revival  progressing — A  fiddler 
converted — T\.w  weeping  meeting  in  the  woods,  .    175 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

ALL  THINGS  WORKING  FOR  GOOD. 

Home  again— Closing  the  year— The  mind  easily  diverted 
from  good  things — A  vain  girl — A  grave  deacon — 
A  mirthful  group — A  solemn  funeral — A  whiffet  dog 
—A  perplexed  minister — A  colt  in  church— The  de^-il 
defeated —  Somerville  —  Uni  versalism  —  Characters — 
Successful  meeting— Mighty  prayer— Preaching  the 
law— A  great  move — A  frightened  merchant,  .    193 


X  Jiemlniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

I'KOVIDEXCE    PROVIDES. 

A  converted  child  winning  lier  wicked  father  and  mother 
to  Christ— Poor  health— A  "  Hurrah  "  constructed— 
Furnished  by  the  society— Great  improvement- 
Happy  as  a  king— Helpinj,^  the  open  communion  Bap- 
tists—A crude  people— An  obscure  sermon— Exhort- 
ing under  difficulties— God's  power  above  human 
weakness— A  smoking  congregation— Oneida  Confer- 
ence—Pulaski  (^larterly  Meeting— John  Dempster,  .    207 

CHAPTER  XV. 

A    PLEASANT    CHANGE. 

Ix)dgings  at  Conference— The  examining  committee- 
George  Peck— Joseph  Castle— David  A.  Shepherd— 
Zachariah  Paddock— The  class— Incidents,      .  .    226 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

ALL    AT    IT,    AND    ALWAYS    AT    IT. 

Opening  the  conference— The  preaching— Conversion  of 
a  drunkard— Dr.  Nathan  Bangs— Missionary  address 
—The  shouting  Irishman— Josiah  Keyes— Sanctifica- 
tion— Chateaugay  Circuit— Moving  on  horseback— 
My  Urst  Sunday  school  teacher— Ezra  Stiles— A  wild 
country— My  colleagues,  .  .  .  .245 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

OVERCOMING    DIFFICTLTIES. 

General  class  meeting— Aurora  Borealis— An  old  hypo- 
crite—Meeting at  North  Chateaugay— Workers— 
Love  feast— Quarterly  meeting  in  a  barn  in  winter- 
Crowds  gathering— Taking  as  many  as  they  had 
boards  in  the  floor— Rev.  Silas  Comfort,  the  Presid- 
ing elder— Glorious  love  feast— The  elders  sermon,   .    265 


JReuihiiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life,         xi 
CHAPTER  XVIII. 

TRIALS   AND   TRIUMPH.s. 

Meeting  at  the  Upper  Scenery— Preaching  the  law— Regu- 
lating morals— Getting  people  married— A  young 
clerg>'man— The  wilds  of  Canada— Missionary' work 
—Meeting  at  Coveytown— Model  class  leader— Fire 
spreading— A  Ranter— Unique  sermon— Exposed  to 
wild  beasts- Torchlights— Rev.  B.  F.  Brown  and  the 
panther— Mijiisters  and  good  horses,     .  .  .281 

« 

CHAPTER  XIX. 


<( 


I    WILL   SEND    MY    AXGEL    BEFORE    THEE." 


Body  guard— Man  treed  ])y  a  pack  of  wolves— Good-])y 
meeting  on  horseback- Return  to  the  Scenery— The 
work  prospering— On  to  Chateaugay— Presbyterian 
protracted  meeting  — The  evangelist  —  Sending  a 
woman  and  her  babe  out  in  the  cold— Meeting  in 
the  school  house  — Man  and  his  wife  converted— 
Hurrying  to  next  appointment— Great  meeting  at 
^lalone— C.  L.  Dunning,  pastor— Going  to  assist  him 
-The  people, 30Q 

CHAPTER  XX. 

MANNING    THE    FORT   FOR   THE   BATTLE. 

Tithing— Methodism  moved  the  people— A  test  of  talent 
— "  A  Methodist  ass  "—  The  preacher  and  two  lawyers 
—Jesse  Lee  and  the  parish  minister  — Christian 
union— Malone  ministers— Church  going,        .  .    311 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

SETTING    THE    BATTLE    IN    ARRAY. 

Commenced  my  ministry  in  Malone— Methodist  singing 
—Meeting  in  the  court  house— Three  services  a  da v— 


33r> 


xii        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Noisy  meetings— Bro.  Dunning  and  the  "  still,  small 
yoice  "—The  country  moved— Sabbath  crowds— The 
churches  united— Late  hours- Earnest  work— Class 
meetings,    ...••••    ^24 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

prayeH  omnipotent. 

Pulpit  preparation  — Idle  minister  confounded  —  Inci- 
dents—Miss  Powell's  conversion— Visiting  the  sick- 
Restored  in  answer  to  prayer— In  sickness  acquaint 
the  minister— The  late  Bishop  Clark  and  a  sick 
parishioner,  ..... 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

god's  strength  in  human  weakness. 

Mr.  Wilson's  conversion— The  work  increasing— Brother 
Dunning  in  his  glory— Preaching  the  law— Giving 
me  a  text— The  result— Health  giving  way— Urged 
to  preach— The  sermon— Strength  failing— Gathering 
penitents  to  the  altar— Fell  in  the  pulpit  with  the 
blood  oozing  from  my  mouth— Carried  from  the 
house — My  preaching  ended  for  three  years,   . 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

AFTER  THE   BATTLE. 

Medical  treatment— Doctor  Conant— Mrs.  Conant— Sab- 
bath in  the  sick  room— A  ministering  angel— Helpless 
—Change  of  treatment— Removed  to  the  circuit- 
Reported  dead— Funeral  sermon  preached  in  three 
places— Great  embarrassment— Hixite  Quaker, 

CHVPTER  XXV. 

PROVIDENTIAL    GUIDANCE. 

Watertown  Conference— Examination— Discussion— Ad- 
mitted into  conference— Conference  held  in  the  "  old 


347 


85(> 


Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life,       xiii 

stone  church  "-Bishop  Waugh  presided-Rev.  W 
AV.  ^mde,  secretary-"  The  meek  conference  "- 
Methodism  introduced  into  the  northern  part  of  the 
State-Superannuat^d-Started  for  the  South-Pros- 
trated on  the  way-Rev.  Isaac  Sprague-Restored  in 
answer  to  prayer-The  agency  of  Gouverneur  Semi- 
nary-Marriage-Much  to  admire  in  early  :\Iethodism 
—A  glorious  future  before  the  Church,  .  .    3^6 


(II AFTER  I. 


I'KKl' A  RATION    FOR    LIFE    WORK. 

T|TA\^I:N(4  passed  my  tliree  score  years  and  ten, 
^  and  completed  fifty  years  in  the  (Christian 
ministry,  I  feel  very  grateful  to  my  JJeavenly 
Father  for  giving  me  the  privilege  of  laboring  in 
an  age  so  fraught  with  opportunities  for  usefulness 
when  the  Gospel  is  overturning  error,  breaking  down 
the  prejudice  of  ages,  shedding  its  blessed  light  on 
the  minds  of  men,  and  bringing  their  hearts  and 
lives  under  tlie  reign  of  Christ.  O  it  is  a  glorious 
privilege  to  live  at  such  a  time. 

^femory  calls  up  the  scenes  of  other  davs,  and 
clothes  them  with  enchantment.  I  cast  my  eye  over 
the  swiftly  passing  years  of  life,  and  call  to  mind 
gratefully  the  merciful  Frovidence  that  guided  my 
course.  My  first  memory  of  life  was  in  Fort  Cov- 
ington, Franklin  county,  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
State.  My  early  home  was  a  plea^sant  one.  My 
father  was  one  of  the  pioneei-s  of  that  new  country. 
From  my  earliest  recollections  he  was  a  ruling  elder 
m  the  Fresbyterian  Church,  with  all  the  moral  rigid- 
ness  of  Furitanism.  My  mother  was  a  woman  of 
sterling  sense,  cultured  in  mind  and  manner,  and  a 
devoted  Christian.     I  was  the  seventh  of  twelve 

children,  nine  of  whom  became  heads  of  families 

1  ' 


2  Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

and  four  of  whom,  older  than  myself,  are  still  living 
in  a  serene  old  age. 

From  ^^Q  to  fifteen  years  of  age  I  spent  in  school. 
Three  years  were  then  spent  in  a  jeweler's  shop,  in 
which  we  manufactured  plain  jewelry,  brass  clocks 
and  silver  spoons,  and  repaired  watches.  My  nine- 
teenth and  a  part  of  my  twentieth  years  were  spent 
in  Fort  Covington  Academy.  I  was  converted  in 
the  month  of  October,  1820,  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years.  I  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  my  sinfulness 
in  a  Methodist  prayer  meeting;  the  first  I  ever 
attended ;  but  was  converted  in  my  bed  room 
through  the  prayers  and  instructions  of  my  precious 
mother.  I  began  to  preach  when  I  was  in  my  six- 
teenth year,  but  only  occasionally,  as  I  was  pressed 
into  service  by  the  ministers. 

During  my  time  in  the  academy  I  held  meetings 
regularly  every  Sabbath.  I  shrank  away  from  the 
large  audiences  in  the  village  and  went  into  the  back 
settlements  in  search  of  the  lost  sheep.  My  first 
appointment  was  ten  miles  from  our  village,  at  a 
place  called  Coal  Hill.  I  went  to  the  settlement  one 
Sabbath  morning,  having  lodged  with  a  friend  on 
the  way  the  night  before ;  called  on  several  families, 
talked  and  prayed  with  them,  and  inquired  if  there 
were  any  religious  people  in  the  place.  They  told 
me  of  a  sick  man,  and  thought,  as  he  would  not  live 
long,  that  perhaps  he  might  be  religious.  On  reach- 
ing his  house  I  told  him  my  name,  and  where  I  was 
from ;  that  I  loved  Jesus,  and  wanted  evervbodv  to 
love  Hini  too ;  and  that  I  was  told  that  perhaps  he 


Preparation  for  Life    Work.  3 

was  a  Christian.     The  tears  rolled  down  his  pale 
cheeks  as  he  clasped  my  hand,  saying :  "  I  think  God 
has  sent  you.     I  am  not  a  Christian,  but  want  to  be, 
and  have  longed  for  some  one  to  tell  me  the  way 
and  pray  for  me,  but  none  of  my  neighbor  know 
anything  about  religion."     I  told  him  of  the  sinner's 
Friend,  how  he  sympathized  with  the  sick  in  the 
days  of  his  flesh,  and  was  still  ready  with  pitv  and 
tender  love  to  receive  the  broken  and  contrite  heart. 
I  knelt  at  his  bed  side  and  commended  him  and  his 
weeping  family  to  the  mercy  and  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     I  said  to  him  that  if  there  was  any 
place  where  the  neighbors  could   be    assembled  I 
would  talk  to  them  about  Jesus.     He  proposed  to 
have  the  meeting  in  his  own  house,  as  he  wished  to 
enjoy  it,  and  could  not  be  moved  to  another.     He 
sent   his  children  through  the  settlement  to  give 
notice  of  the  meeting,  and  about  2  o'clock  p.  m.  the 
house  was  comfortably  filled.     The  meeting  was  one 
of  deep  interest.     We  sang  and  talked,  and  wept 
and  prayed ;  and  several  promised  to  lead  a  new  life. 
The  people  urged  me  to  have  another  meeting  at  6 
o'clock,  and  so  deep  was  the  conviction  for  sin  that 
prayer  was  offered  again  and  again,  and  several  went 
home  that  night  rejoicing  in  the  pardon  of  sin. 

I  kept  up  that  meeting  most  of  the  Sabbaths  of 
the  year.  I  used  to  start  from  home  about  4  o'clock 
Saturday  afternoon ;  preach  three  times  on  Sunday, 
meet  class,  hold  a  prayer  meeting,  and  walk  back 
home  again,  reaching  the  academy  Mondav  morning 
by  10  o'clock,  in  time  for  my  first  lesson,  having 


4  lieminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

studied  it  thoroughly,  book  in  hand,  along  the  way. 
I  formed  a  class  of  over  sixty  church  members, 
reported  them  to  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  they 
were  taken  into  the  circuit  and  regularly  supplied 
with  preaching. 

Fort  Covington  is  near  the  Canada  line,  and  hear- 
ing of  a  settlement  in  Canada,  about  ten  miles  dis- 
tant, where  they  had  no  meetings,  I  visited  them  as 
I  did  the  other.  A  gentleman  opened  his  house  for 
meetings,  and  during  my  stay  in  the  academy  they 
were  continued  with  good  results.  The  people  here 
.Avere  not  as  intelligent  as  in  the  former  place,  but 
ecpially  anxious  to  hear  the  Gospel  and  profit  by  it. 
Tliey  were  generally  very  poor.  They  came  to  the 
meeting  very  coai-sely  clad.  Two-thirds  of  the  year 
the  men  came  without  coats,  the  women  with  ''  sun 
bonnets ''  of  their  own  making,  and  both  sexes  bare- 
footed. And  yet  so  eager  w^ere  they  to  attend  the 
meeting,  that  two  women,  with  scanty  wardrobe, 
came  earlv,  and  lav  covered  in  the  bed  that  stood  in 
the  corner  of  the  room  in  the  large  log  cabin  which 
constituted  our  church.  But  God  was  with  us,  and 
in  nearly  every  meeting  some  were  saved.  Over 
fifty  were  converted,  and  I  sent  for  the  circuit 
preacher,  who  came  and  took  them  into  the  church 
and  gave  them  a  place  on  his  plan  of  regular 
appointments. 

I  served  these  two  places  for  twenty  months ;  my 
compensation  was  a  happy  heart  and  the  great  privi- 
lege of  pointing  lost  men  to  the  Savior  of  sinners. 

I  have  often  thought  in  later  years,  that  if  our 


Preparation  for  Life    Work.  5 

local  preachers  were  to  pusli  out  into  the  neglected 
neighborhoods  (and  tliere  are  many)  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  regular  pastors,  instead  of  complaining 
that  they  have  no  chance  to  preacli,  they  might  do 
great  good,  and  restore  the  local  ministry  to'  its  old 
time  glory  and  usefulness,  and  make  themselves  a 
power  for  saving  souls. 

Before  giving  recollections  of  circuit  life,  allow 
me  to  state  a  few  personal  reminiscences,  as  showing 
the  moral  condition  of  things  sixty  years  ago.     It 
had  been  the  intention  of  my  father,  from  my  early 
childhood,  to  educate  me  for  the  Presbyterian  min- 
.  istry,  and  it  was  a  great  disappointment  to  him  when 
I  asked  his  permission  to  unite  with  the  Methodist 
.Church.     His  reply    was,  "You  can  do  so  if   you 
choose,  but  I  would  quite  as  soon  that  you  join  the 
Catholics."     I  received  this  as  a  reluctant  consent, 
though   the   sequel   proved  that  such  was  not  his 
intention.      That   evening  there    was   a   Methodist 
meeting,  and  I  joined  on  probation.     On  returning 
from  the  meeting  I  found  my  father  greatly  excited. 
He  inquired  in  an  angry  tone,  "Have  you  joined 
that  people?"   and  when   he  was  informed  that  I 
had,  he  declared  that  he  would  disinherit  me,  and 
no  longer  acknowledge  me  as  his  son ;  and  I  was 
ordered  to  leave  the  house,  and  find  a  home  among 
my  "fanatical  friends."     I  fell  on  my  knees  and 
humbly  begged  his  pardon,  assuring  hira  that  I  su|> 
posed  I  had  his  consent,  and  would  not  have  joined 
without  his  permission.     But  he  was  inflexible,  and 
I  was  obliged  to  go. 


6  Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

I  was  brought  back  in  the  morning  by  my  honored 
mother,  who  was  a  woman  of  truly  catholic  spirit, 
and  a  devoted  experimental  Christian.  My  father 
was  not  a  cruel  man ;  far  from  it.  He  was  only  a 
fair  type  of  the  Puritan  rigidness  and  sectarian 
bigotry  of  the  times.  The  Methodists  were  looked 
upon  as  a  deluded  and  fanatical  sect,  and  their 
preaching  a  free  and  full  salvation,  the  witness  of 
the  Spirit,  and  the  possibility  of  a  falling  from  grace, 
was  so  unlike  the  ^alvinistic  dogmas  that  they  were 
made  the  butt  of  ridicule,  and  were  everywhere  evil 
spoken  of.  But  they  have  passed  the  ordeal  of  per- 
secution, and  come  forth  as  gold  tried  in  the  fire, 
and  have  proved  a  great  blessing  to  their  old  oppo- 
sers  by  leading  them  into  the  clearer  light,  to  a 
higher  plane  of  piety,  and  a  more  scriptural  charity. 

I  remained  at  home  but  as  hort  time,  for  I  was 
apprenticed  by  my  father  to  a  member  of  the  same 
church  with  himself,  to  learn  the  "goldsmith's 
trade,"  and  for  three  and  a-half  years  suffered  very 
bitter  persecution  on  account  of  my  Methodistic 
connection,  but  it  only  increased  my  love  for  the 
people  of  my  choice,  and  established  me  more  firmly 
in  the  faith. 

Though  my  indentures  secured  me  "  suitable  cloth- 
ing, a  certain  amount  of  schooling,  liberty  of  con- 
science, and  the  use  of  the  means  of  grace,"  yet  all 
these  were  denied  me  until  the  leading  members  of 
our  church  interfered,  and  an  infidel  lawyer,  who 
loved  justice,  volunteered  his  services  in  my  behalf. 
But  the  case  was  never  tried,  as  Mr.  B.  and  my 


Prej^aration  for  Life    W&rk.  7 

father  called  me  into  a  room  privately,  and  said  that 
I  had  been  true  and  faithful ;  that  they  had  no  fault 
to  find  with  me,  but  only  wished  me  to  leave  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  they  would  do  well  by  me. 
I  told  them  frankly  that  my  path  of  duty  lay  in  that 
church,  and  for  conscience  sake  I  could  not  leave  it. 
If  I  must  suffer,  I  would  suffer  as  a  Christian,  and 
would  commit  my  cause  into  the  hands  of  my  once 
suffering  and  persecuted  Master,  who  was  a  present 
helper  in  time  of  need.     My  father  was  melted  to 
tears,  and  said  to  Mr.  B.,  ''  This  thing  has  gone  far 
enough,  and  James  shall  enjoy  his  privileges."     They 
then  gave  me  the  indentures  that  each  held,  and  I 
was    free.     Thus    God   vindicated   my   cause    and 
changed  the  lion   to   a   lamb,   for   Mr.   B.   kindly 
offered  me  work  in  his  shop,  and  board  in  his  family 
if  I  would  stay,  or,  if  I  preferred,  he  would  give  me 
charge  of   a  shop  that   lie  was   about  to  open  in 
Canada  for  the  manufacture  of  brass  clocks,  which 
then  found  a  ready  sale  in  that  market,  and  I  should 
share  equally  in  the  .profits.     I  assured  him  of  my 
gratitude  for  his  generous  offer,  but  stated  that  it 
was  my  intention  to  prepare  for  the  ministry,  and 
as  I  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age,  I  thought  that 
I  had  no  time  to  lose,  and  must  be  about  my  Master's 
business.     He  then  proposed  that  I  work  in  his  shop 
enough  to  pay  my  way  while  at  school,  and  he  would 
allow  me  the  usual  price  for  making  clocks,  silver 
spoons,  and  repairing  jewelry.     This  offer  I  grate- 
fully a<?cepted,  and  during  the  time  that  I  attended 
the  Fort  Covington  Academy,  I  paid  for  my  tuition, 


8 


•  Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


board,  books,  clothes,  and  all  my  expenses,  by  work- 
ing Saturdays  and  hours  out  of  school.  Mr.  B.  and 
his  family  remained  my  warm  friends,  and  I  enter- 
tained for  them  a  true  Christian  affection.  My 
father  afterwards  became  a  very  devoted  Christian, 
lost  his  sectarian  bigotry,  and  was  not  only  recon- 
ciled to  mv  church  relations,  but  fully  believed  that 
I  was  in  the  way  of  Providence  in  the  Methodist 
ministry. 

I  was  brought  uj)  under  the  influence  of  the  "  doc- 
trines  of  groceP  The  hyper  Calvinism  of  that  day 
was  stoutly  preached  in  the  pul])its,  expounded  in 
the  families,  and  generally  received  by  the  people. 
If  any  one  dissented  from  these  dogmas,  he  was 
regarded  as  a  reprobate  and  dangerous  to  the  com- 
munity. Our  venerable  minister,  good  old  Mr. 
Brunson,  came  regularly  every  Saturday  afternoon 
to  our  house,  after  his  sermons  were  written,  to  talk 
over  the  affairs  of  the  church,  the  sliortcomincrs  of 
the  elect,  ''  the  five  points  of  Calvinism,"  as  he  had 
logically  arranged  tliem  for  the  edification  of  the 
"  chosen  few^-  on  the  following  Sabbath.  He  always 
remained  to  tea,  and,  after  the  cloth  was  removed, 
he  and  my  father,  who  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the 
church,  waxed  eloquent  on  ''the  doctrines  of  grace" 
— their  zeal  being  stimulated  by  frequent  potations 
from  the  hrandij  decanter.  About  nine  o'clock  their 
discussions  usually  ended,  as  their  tongues  became  too 
!jhick  for  utterance.  The  dominie  was  never  able 
to  walk  home  alone,  and  father  was  too  far  gone  to 
aid  him,  and  so  my  two  older  sisters  were  sent,  one 


Preparation  for  Life    Work.  9 

on  each  side,  not  to  prevent  his  falling  from  grace — 
for  of  this  there  was  no  danger,  according  to  the 
"  five  points  '• — but  to  prevent  him  from  falling  into 
the  ditch.  This  was  scarcely  considered  an  impro- 
priety in  tliat  day,  as  drinking  was  so  common  that 
only  the  sot,  who  became  dead  drunk,  was  censured. 

My  good  mother,  however,  was  a  staunch  teeto- 
taler, and  condemned  the  practice,  gravely  rebuking 
the  minister  and  his  deacon  for  their  weakness. 
Notwithstanding  this,  my  father  was  considered  a 
pious  man,  a  model  worthy  of  imitation.  What  if 
profane  words  did  sometimes  drop  from  his  lips 
when  angered,  and  once  or  twice  a  week  he  might 
drink  to  intoxication  ?  These  were  only  peccadillo's 
"necessary  to  produce  the  grace  of  humility,"  and 
to  remind  the  elect  that  there  could  be  no  perfection 
this  side  of  heaven ;  he  was  safe  in  "  electing  love," 
and  nothing  could  ])luck  him  out  of  the  Father's 
hand.  The  evidence  of  his  "  effectual  calling "  and 
the  ground  of  his  ''hope^''  was,  that  we  had  "gi^ace 
before  and  after  meals,"  and  family  prayers  regularly 
once  a  week. 

Our  Sabbaths  were  strictly  Icept.  Xo  unnecessary 
work  was  allowed.  The  cows  might  be  milked  and 
the  horses  fed  and  watered,  but  fchev  must  not  be 
groomed  nor  the  stables  regulated.  The  wood  must 
be  put  in  the  wood  box  on  Saturday  afternoon,  the 
water  brought  from  the  well,  boots  blacked,  shaving 
attended  to,  and  the  cooking  done  for  the  Sabbath. 
Our  two  meals  on  Sunday  were  served  cold,  except 
the  tea  for  the  old  people.     In  the  morning  we  read 


10         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

our  Bible  until  church  time.     It  was  always  the  sig- 
nal for  us  to  get  ready  when  we  saw  the  minister 
coming  down  the  hill,  with  hands  crossed  behind 
him,  head  devoutly  bowed  and  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
ground,  ''  on  pious  thoughts  intent ; "  while  his  wife 
and  children  walked  about  three  rods  behind  him, 
so  as  not  to  disturb   his  godly   meditations.     But 
somehow  he  always  remembered  to  turn  in  at  our 
gate,  enter  the  house,  and  with  a  simple  nod  of 
recognition,  pass  silently  into  the  ''  square  room,"  to 
the    sideboard   where  the   liquors  were  kept,  and 
help  himself  to  a  liberal  glass  of  brandy,  *^for  his 
stomach's  sake  and  his  often  infirmities.''     He  passed 
out  as  silently  as  he  came,  and  took  his  place  at  the 
head  of  his  family.     Our  family  in  a  similar  order 
filed  in  and  devoutly  wended  our  way  to  the  courts 
of  Zion. 

The  morning  prayer  occupied  from  thirty  to  forty- 
five  minutes,  and  the  sermon  was  proportionately 
long,  never  less  than  one  hour  and  a-half  in  length. 
After  an  intermission  of  half  an  hour,  we  enjoyed  (?) 
another  service  similar  to  the  morning,  only  the 
prayers  were  shorter  and  the  sermon  longer,  as  the 
minister  warmed  up  in  the  "  doctrines." 

We  usually  reached  home  a  little  past  three  o'clock, 
and  after  our  Sabbath  dinner  the  family  were  seated 
in  a  semi-circle,  mother  first  and  the  nine  children 
next,  according  to  age,  from  the  eldest  to  the  young- 
est, "  for  Catechism."  Father  seated  before  us  with 
the  shorter  Catechism  in  hand,  began  at  the  "'  chief 
end  of  man,"  and  went  through  the  book  to  ''  the 


Preparation  for  Life   WorTc, 


11 


conclusion  of  the  Lord's  prayer,"  each  answering  in 
turn.  This  exercise  lasted  about  two  hours,  and  was 
repeated  every  Sabbath. 

Our  family  worship  was  the  most  tedious  and 
dreaded  part  of  the  Sabbath  services,  for  it  occupied 
the  entire  evening.  It  consisted  of  reading  from 
eight  to  ten  chapters  from  the  Bible,  singing  several 
of  the  Psalms  of  David  in  metre,  and  prayer.  And 
as  this  was  the  only  family  prayer  for  the  entire 
week,  it  Avas  one  hour  and  ten  minutes  in  length. 
And  as  it  was  considered  a  great  sin  to  sleep  in  time 
of  prayer,  alas  for  the  unfortunate  child  who  was 
found  napping ;  it  was  a  mark  of  reprobacy  and  the 
"rod  of  correction"  must  be  used  to  drive  it  out. 
This  is  no  exaggeration,  but  a  truthful  account  of 
the  Sabbath  services  of  those  times. 

The  religion  of  that  day  was  thus  made  gloomy 
and  repulsive,  and  drove  many  into  skepticism.  And 
when  the  Methodist  preachers  came  offering  a  free 
and  full  salvation  to  all  who  would  accept  on  Gospel 
terms,  their  preaching  found  a  response  in  the  reason 
of  many,  and  a  welcome  to  their  hearts. 


12         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTER  II. 


BUSY    SCENES. 


JN  the  month  of  July,  1S32,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
I  was   appointed  to   the   Parishville  circuit,   as 
junior  preacher,  by  Rev.  S.  Chase,  the  presiding 
elder  of  Potsdam  district. 

I  was  associated  on  the  circuit  with  an  experienced 
minister,  Rev.  G.  W.  Barney,  who  had  charge  of  the 
circuit ;  a  calm,  prudent,  godly  man,  who  directed 
my  course,  and  by  his  wisdom  and  piety  moulded 
my  future.     This  was  an  excellent  arrangement  in 
the  early  days  of  Methodism,  appointing  able,  tried 
men  in  charge  and  putting  those  of  less  experience 
with  them,  as  helpers  in  the  work.     Our  circuit  was 
a  large  one,   requiring  .325  miles  of  travel  to  go 
around  it.     A  "  plan "  was  given  me,  which  called 
for  at  least  thirty-six  sennons  in  four  weeks,  beside 
extras  ^xvd  fimerals.     This  plan  gave  the  name  of 
each  appointment,  the  distance  fi^om  place  to  place, 
the  day  and  hour  of  each  meeting,  the  family  with 
whom  we  were  to  lodge,  the  place  to  dine  the  next 
day  en  route  to  our  appointment,  the  class  leader's 
name  at  each  place  and  any  other  church  officer 
living  there.     Reaching  the  circuit  Saturday  evening 
I  commenced  my  labors  Sabbath  morning,  preaching 


Busy  Scenes. 


13 


at  three  different  places,  and  meeting  class  at  the 
close  of  each  service. 

The  next  morning,  after  breakfast,  family  prayers, 
and  an  hour  spent  in  reading,  I  pushed  on  to  the  next 
appointment,  about  thirty  miles  distant.  Stopped 
at  noon  for  dinner  with  the  familv  mentioned  in  mv 
"  plan."  Quite  a  number  called  after  dinner.  There 
were  no  railroads  or  telegraphs,  or  other  rapid 
methods  of  communication.  >sews  traveled  slowly, 
and  m  the  new  sections  of  the  countr}^,  among  the 
sparse  populations,  was  brought  by  any  passing 
traveler  who  might  chance  to  come  that  way.  It 
was  therefore  a  Godsend  when  the  j^reacher  came 
along.  His  a})pearance  awakened  as  much  interest 
in  one  of  those  back  settlements  then,  as  the  arrival 
of  a  large  mail  would  now  in  time  of  some  great 
public  interest.  I  had  a  pleasant,  social  time  with 
those  who  called;  and,  before  leaving,  inquired  of 
each  one  how  his  soul  prospered,  exhorted  them  to 
holy  living,  presented  the  case  of  each  in  prayer  to 
God,  joined  in  a  hymn  of  praise,  and  started  for  my 
evening  meeting.  Here  I  found  a  large  congregation 
assembled  in  a  log  school  house ;  had  a  "f^ee  "  time 
in  preaching,  and  closed  amid  the  tears  of  the  peni- 
tents and  the  shouts  of  the  brethren.  The  awakened 
were  invited  to  remain  in  class,  and  were  instructed 
and  commended  to  God  in  earnest,  united  pra^^er. 
Several  of  the  members  accompanied  the  preacher 
to  his  lodgings,  w^here,  after  a  pleasant  visit,  we  all 
sat  down  to  a  well  spread  table,  prepared  by  the  lady 
of   the  house,  and,  after  singing   and   prayer,  our 


14        Iteminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

guests  left  for  their  homes,  and  the  preacher,  weary 
and  happy,  retired  to  rest,  a  little  past  midnight. 
This,  in  substance,  was  repeated  day  after  day. 

The  quarterly  meetings  of  those  days  were  times 
of  great  interest.  People  came  in  large  numbers 
from  the  diif erent  parts  of  the  circuit.  The  meeting 
commenced  Saturday  at  10:30  a.  m.  Those  from  dis- 
tant points  started  on  Friday,  and  lodged  at  night 
with  brethren  on  the  way.  Some  came  in  lumber 
wagons  or  sleighs,  and  many  on  horseback.  You 
would  often  see  a  man  in  the  saddle  and  his  wife  on 
a  "  pillion  "  behind  him,  and  perhaps  a  child  in  her 
lap.  These  groups  were  very  social  on  the  way; 
those  on  horseback  riding  by  the  side  of  the  wagons 
frequently  changing  from  one  to  the  other,  and  con- 
versing and  singing  in  the  happiest  mood. 

The  meeting  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  pre- 
siding elder,  followed  with  exhortations  from 
one  or  more  of  the  preachers  present.  And  such 
exhortations!  Eousing  in  their  spirit  and  won- 
drous in  their  effect.  Those  from  a  distance  were 
then  "quartered"  among  the  people  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, in  groups  of  from  two  to  forty  in  each 
family,  according  to  their  ability  and  pleasure. 
I  have  known  forty  sent  to  one  family.  This  station- 
ing was  a  very  cheerful  exercise.  The  preacher  in 
charge  called  the  list  of  the  appointments  on  the 
circuit,  as  follows:  "All  from  Ilopkinton  will 
arise."  Twenty.  "  I  will  take  them,"  says  a  brother. 
"  All  from  Parrishville  will  arise."  Fifteen.  "  Send 
them  to  my  house,"  says  Brother  B.     "  How  many 


Busy  Scenes. 


15 


from  the  Log  Meeting  House  ?"  Thirty.  "  I'll  take 
ten  of  them,"  says  Brother  C.  "  And  Til  take  the 
rest,"  says  Captain  D.,  who  is  not  a  member,  but  an 
ardent  friend.     And  so  they  ^o  throuo^h  the  list. 

After  the  benediction  the  quarterly  conference 
assembled.  It  was  composed  of  quite  a  lai'ge  body 
of  men,  and  made^  more  imj)osing  appearance  than 
a  quarterly  conference  of  the  present  day.  There 
were  over  thirty  class  leaders  on  tlie  circuit,  nine 
stewards,  and  ten  or  twelve  local  preachers  and 
exhorters,  besides  the  traveling  preachers  and  pre- 
siding elder.  We  seldom  had  less  than  thirty  or 
forty  present.  The  conference  was  thorough  and 
critical  in  its  business.  The  stewards  must  be  men 
of  good  judgment,  deep  piety,  loyal  to  the  church, 
and  adapted  to  the  work.  The  class  leaders  were 
sub-pastors  and  required  to  visit  the  members  of 
their  classes  frequently,  as  the  preachers  devoted 
their  time  largely  to  traveling  and  preaching.  Hence 
the  presiding  elders  were  careful  to  inquire  into  the 
fidehty  of  the  leaders  in  this  respect.  The  local 
preachers  and  exhorters  were  active  men,  having 
appointments  regularly,  and  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence thoroughly  examined  their  character,  qualifica- 
tions, and  usefulness.  The  finances  of  the  circuit 
were  carefully  looked  into,  and  the  stewards 
prompted  and  directed.  Church  trials  were  more 
frequent  in  the  earlier  history  of  our  church. 
Members  were  called  to  an  account  for  neglect  of 
duty,  as  well  as  for  immoral  conduct,  hence  *^  appeals 
and  references "  were  quite  frequent  and  each  case 


16         Reminiscences  of  Earhj  Circuit  Life. 

Avas  carefully  examined,  and  so  the  duties  of  a  quar- 
terly conference  were  laborious  and  responsible. 
The  sessions  usually  continued  from  three  to  six 
hours,  according  to  the  amount  of  business.  At  the 
close  of  the  religious  services  the  families  leave  for 
their  homes,  accompanied  by  their  guests.  There  is 
no  time  to  be  lost,  supper  is  to  be  prepared,  teams, 
fed,  the  chores  done  up,  and  back  again  for  the 
evening  prayer  meeting.  And  Oh,  what  a  meeting ! 
The  singing,  praying  and  exhorting,  beggars  descrip- 
tion. The  ''  mourner's  bench  "  (as  it  was  called),  to 
which  penitents  were  invited,  was  often  crowded. 
There  prayer  ardent  opened  heaven,  and  many  who 
bowed'  with  sin  burdened  hearts,  rose  with  sono^s  of 
victory.  These  old  time  quarterly  prayer  meetings 
were  honored  by  the  blaster  in  the  salvation  of  many 
souls. 

But  the  greatest  interest  centered  in  the  Sunday 
morning  love  feast.  It  lasted  about  one  hour  and 
a  half.  It  was  held  with  closed  doors.  One  of  the 
preachers,  or  some  one  appointed,  stood  at  the  door, 
and  all  who  had  ''  tickets  "  or  "  notes  "  were  admitted. 
The  closed  doors  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  meeting. 
Those  wishing  to  attend  nmst  be  on  time,  or  they 
would  be  shut  out.  Every  one  aimed  to  be  present 
to  join  in  the  opening  exercise.  There  was  no 
coming  in  to  disturb  the  worshipers  in  time  of 
prayer.  All  present  rose  in  singing  and  knelt  in 
prayer.  The  doors  were  0|)ened  for  a  few  moments 
after  prayer,  to  admit  those  who  were  unavoidably 
late.     The  bread .  and  water  were  passed,  and  then 


Bu»y  Scenes. 


17 


the  testimonies  began.     The  •services  were  usually 
attended  with  wonderful  power. 

"  Our  hearts  have  burned  while  Jesus  spoke, 
And  glowed  with  sacred  fire." 

I  have  known  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred 
to  speak  in  one  of  these  meetings.  And  such  sing- 
ing !  Who  can  describe  it  ?  You  will  have  to  wait 
until  you  join  the  "harpers"  above,  and  listen  to 
the  "new  song"  of  redeemed  millions,  before  you 
can  fully  understand  it. 

The  testimonies  were  usually  clear,  positive,  and 
earnest.  "  No  uncertain  sound  ; "  nothing  doubtful ; 
conversion  clear ;  the  witness  ot  the  spirit  distinct ; 
the  efficacy  of  the  cleansing  blood,  the  abiding  com- 
forter, the  joy  of  heaven  and  the  rapture  of  meeting 
friends  above.  What  shouts  of  praise !  What  songs 
of  triumph !  What  ecstacies  of  joy !  Our  congre- 
gations are  now  more  local.  We  cannot  bring  the 
tribes  together  as  in  olden  times.  We  have  less 
demonstration,  but  equal  spiritual  power. 

A  sermon  by  the  presiding  elder  followed  the  love 
feast.  It  was  usually  from  an  hour  and  a  half  to 
two  hours  in  length,  but  none  seemed  weary  for 
it  was  "in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with 
power."  These  presiding  elders  were  men  of  talents, 
foremost  among  the  preachers,  accustomed  to  im- 
promptu speaking,  skilled  in  forensic  discussion. 
They  spake  with  "  tongue  of  fire,"  and  swayed  the 
multitudes  like  the  blast  of  a  tornado.  Those  who 
have  heard  Dr.  Dempster,  George   Gary,  Charles 


'JilJAffiiillMl'ilH  I'lln        ' 


18         Herniniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Giles,  Squire  Chase,  J/)siali  Keyes,  and  men  of  their 
type,  can  never  forget  the  effect. 

The  outfit  of  a  Methodist  preacher  at  that  day 
was  not  very  expensive.  It  consisted  of  a  horse, 
saddle  and  bridle,  saddle-bags,  camlet  cloak  with 
cape  down  to  the  tip  of  your  fingers,  a  broad- 
brimmed  white  hat,  and  clothes  of  home  made  cloth 
made  in  the  {)lainest  style.  Some  of  the  preachers 
would  not  wear  buttons  on  the  coat,  but  used  "  hooks 
and  eyes"  instead.  You  could  tell  a  Methodist 
preacher  anywhere. 

In  looking  back  to  those  days  it  is  always  too 
much  for  my  gravity  to  contemplate  the  figure  I 
presented — a  mere*  boyish  youth  weighing  about 
one  hundred  pounds,  well  mounted  on  a  large, 
glossy  black  horse,  with  saddle  bags,  cloak,  umbrella 
strapped  behind  the  saddle,  a  broad  brimmed  drab 
fur  hat,  and  book  in  hand — for  we  did  much  of  our 
study  on  horseback  in  pleasant  weather.  Thus 
equip[>ed,  the  '^boy  preacher,"  as  I  was  called, 
started  out  in  quest  of  souls.  It  is  a  blessing  to 
civilization  that  this  stvle  of  ministerial  costume, 
like  that  of  the  Quakers,  was  not  perpetuated.  The 
saddle  bags  contained  my  scanty  wardrobe  and 
library,  consisting  of  a  small  Bible,  hymn  book.  Dis- 
cipline, two  or  three  books  of  study  in  the  confer- 
ence course,  and  the  life  of  Bramwell,  or  some  other 
purely  religious  book,  to  fan  the  flame  of  piety  in 
the  heart. 

Humbling  myself  under  a  sense  of  responsibility, 
but  trusting  in  God  and  happy  in  the  consciousness 


jTV-gi^; 


Busy  Scenes, 


19 


of  being  in   the   wav  of   dutv,  mv   cheerful  sont^ 
was — 

"  On  the  mountains  let  me  labor, 
In  the  valleys  let  me  tell 
How  he  died,  the  blessed  Savior, 
To  redeem  lost  souls  from  hell." 

Our  salaries  were  not  very  "fat."  A  sino*le 
preacher  was  allowed  one  hundred  dollars,  if  he 
could  get  it;  if  married,  another  hundred  for  his 
wife,  and  sixteen  dollars  for  each  child  under  seven 
years  of  age,  and  for  each  child  from  seven  to  four- 
teen years,  twenty-four  dollars.  An  "allowance" 
was  made  for  "table  expenses  and  fuel"  of  from 
twenty-five  to  fifty  dollars,  according  to  the  abihty 
and  hberalitv  of  the  circuit. 

I  received  about  fifty  dollars  the  first  year ;  four 
dollars  in  money,  the  balance  m  "store  pay"  and 
other  things.  Part  of  this  I  gave  to  my  colleague, 
who  had  a  family  and  was  very  poor.  My  wants, 
however,  were  all  supplied.  When  my  clothes 
became  seedy,  they  got  me  a  coat  at  one  place,  a 
pair  of  "trousers"  at  another,  a  "waistcoat"  at 
another,  boots  here,  hat  there,  etc.,  while  the  sisters 
kept  my  saddle  bags  well  provided  with  ghirts,  socks, 
and  handkerchiefs.  I  traveled  Hve  years  as  a  single 
man,  and  take  pleasure  in  saying,  for  the  credit  of 
the  people,  that  my  "  needs  "  were  comfortably  met. 
My  first  salary  as  a  married  man  was  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars.  I  paid  fifty  dollai^  house 
rent  out  of  that,  and  lived  as  well  then  as  I  do  now, 
because  provisions  and  clothing  were  cheap,  and  the 


20        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

people  loved  their  minister,  and  sent  portions  from 
their  own  tables  that  nearly  supplied  ours ;  at  least 
such  was  my  experience. 

You  may  be  curious  to  know  how  we  could  obtain 
books  for  our  own  use,  as  they  were  expensive  and 
money  scarce.  It  was  a  part  of  our  duty  as  minis- 
ters to  supply  the  people  with  religious  literature. 
In  order  to  do  so,  we  were  furnished  with  books 
from  the  Methodist  "Book  Concern"  at  a  liberal 
discount.  We  sold  enough  to  pay  the  original  cost 
and  freight.  The  remainder  we  retained  for  our 
own  use;  and  as  we  lived  among  the  people  we 
found  it  very  convenient  to  use  their  books  when  we 
came  around.  In  the  homes  of  our  people  we  often 
found  Clark's  and  Benson's  commentaries,  Wesley's 
works,  Watson's  Institutes,  etc.,  etc.  There  was  a 
greater  readiness  among  the  Christian  people  of  that 
day  to  purchase  good,  solid,  religious  books  than  we 
find  among  the  same  class  now.  Parents  found  them 
a  great  help  in  the  education  of  their  children,  and 
used  much  care  in  the  selection  of  reading  matter 
for  their  families.  By  purchasing  the  standard  works 
of  their  own  church,  they  became  familiar  with  its 
doctrines,  and  were  ready  to  give  a  reason  for  their 
faith.  You  will  find  on  examination  that  the 
libraries  of  the  old  Methodists  were  mostly  from 
our  own  publishing  house;  and  when  they  took  a 
religious  paper,  it  was  the  organ  of  their  own 
church.  Hence  they  knew  what  they  believed,  and 
why  they  believed  it. 

Our  preaching  was  largely  doctrinal  and  experi- 


Busy  Scenes. 


21 


mental;  we  explained  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible, 
and  then  applied  them.  In  so  doing  we  cultivated 
the  gift  of  exhortation  that  roused  the  people  from 
their  sins  and  led  the  church  to  higher  attainments 
in  religion.  The  ministers  of  each  denomination 
considered  themselves  as  set  apart  for  the  defence  of 
the  doctrines.  St.  Paul's  counsel  was  carefullv  fol- 
lowed :  "  Take  heed  to  the  doctrine."  Hence  con- 
troversy was  frequent.  Many  of  the  itinerants 
became  able  defenders  of  the  faith.  It  was  no 
uncommon  thing  for  one  minister  to  challenge 
another  to  a  doctrinal  discussion  and  spend  days  in 
earnest  debate.  If  you  went  to  hear  a  minister  of 
another  faith,  he  would  often  go  out  of  the  range  of 
•his  sermon  to  attack  your  doctrine,  and  of  course 
you  must  answer  him,  and  so  the  tug  of  wai;  began. 
About  two  weeks  after  I  reached  the  circuit  we 
held  a  "four  days'  meeting,"  at  a  place  called 
Merchant  Street.  The  local  preacher  supplied  the 
appointments  of  Brother  Barney  and  myself,  leaving 
us  to  devote  our  whole  time  to  the  meeting.  The 
society  was  at  a  low  ebb,  and  nearly  three  days 
were  spent  in  regulating  the  membership,  and  bring- 
ing them  into  working  order.  Saturday  there  was 
a  general  "break  down,"  both  among  saints  and 
sinners.  What  confessions  of  sin,  both  to  God 
and  each  other !  What  taking  of  the  stumbling 
blocks  out  of  the  way  of  the  unconverted  I  What 
tearful  appeals  to  the  impenitent !  Wljat  agonizing 
prayer  for  unsaved  friends  and  neighbors!  How 
deep  and  pungent  the  convictions,  and  how  clear  and 


22         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

strong  the  conversions!  Few  "trembling  hopes." 
None  were  reckoned  among  the  converts  until  doubts 
were  gone  and  they  could  say :  "  I  know  that  my 
Eedeemer  liveth." 

Sunday  morning  love  feast  found  the  church  alive 
— several  happy  converts  to  tell  of  pardoned  sin  and 
the  joys  of  salvation ;  and  weeping  penitents  inquir- 
ing what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  The  Word  took 
effect  that  day,  being  backed  up  by  the  earnest 
prayers  of  God's  newly  baptized  people.  That  Sab- 
bath was  a  great  day  in  Israel.  Monday  morning  a 
council  was  held,  and  I  was  directed  by  the  preacher 
in  charge  to  remain  and  carry  on  the  meeting,  while 
the  local  preachers  would  fill  my  appointments  on 
the  circuit.  The  meeting  continued  about  two  weeks 
with  glorious  results.  Many  were  gathered  into  the 
fold.  A  few  of  the  brethren  were  mighty  in  prayer, 
and  very  successful  in  visiting  from  house  to  house. 

The  neighborhood  had  been  largely  settled  with 
intelligent  farmers  from  the  east,  and  as  the  work 
took  all  ages  there  were  several  entire  families 
brought  into  the  church.  Several  incidents  occurred 
in  the  revival  that  have  always  lingered  pleasantly 
in  my  memory.  During  the  "  four  days'  meeting  " 
we  held  three  public  services  each  day — forenoon, 
afternoon  and  evening.  But  now  we  met  but  twice, 
leaving  the  fore  part  of  the  day  for  visiting  from 
house  to  house.  There  was  a  Mr.  Chnhh  living  in 
the  place  having  a  large  and  influential  family  who 
attended  the  meeting,  but  gave  no  evidence  of  being 
benefited  by  it.     I  called  on  them  one  morning  and 


|afc^,  ■-*-•■=*•■*—■ 


Busy  Scenes. 


S3 


was  kindlv  received.  I  found  Mr.  C.  a  believer  in 
religion,  but  not  in  sympathy  with  the  manner  of 
conducting  the  meetings ;  they  were  too  earnest  and 
exciting.  In  view  of  my  youth  and  his  riper  years 
and  wider  observation,  he  courteously  proffered  me 
his  advice.  He  evidently  desired  to  render  me  more 
efficient  in  my  work,  and  thought  if  I  would  tone 
down  the  meetings  and  make  them  more  (piiet, 
greater  good  would  be  accomplished.  He  illustrated 
his  views  with  this  figure  :  "  Two  men  went  a  fish- 
ing. One  took  a  long,  knotty  pole,  a  tow  line,  and  a 
large  hook  baited  with  worms.  In  throwing  out  his 
line  he  splashed  his  pole  in  the  water  and  frightened 
the  fish  aU  away.  But  the  other  took  a  light,  slen- 
der pole,  a  silk  line,  and  a  small  hook  with  a  bright 
artificial  fly ;  came  cautiously  to  the  water  and  played 
the  fly  back  and  forth  over  the  surface.  The  fish  took 
it  and  were  caught  in  abundance."  I  thanked  him 
for  his  advice;  said  the  day  might  come  when  it 
would  be  profitable  to  me,  but  that  having  been 
brought  up  on  the  banks  of  Salmon  river,  one  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  majestic  St.  Lawrence,  abounding 
in  fish  of  various  kinds,  I  had  learned  that  different 
kinds  of  fish  required  different  management.  If  I 
wanted  trout  I  would  move  quietly,  but  if  I  wanted 
chub  I  would  splash  in  the  water,  because  noise 
attracted  them  to  the  place  and  they  preferred  sub- 
stantial bait.  He  himself  could  see  that  in  these 
earnest  meetings  we  had  taken  quite  a  string  of 
chuhh  (several  of  his  name  had  been  converted)  and 
I  was  fishing  for  them  still.     The  repartee  greatly 


24        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

pleased  liim.  He  said  he  was  not  aware  that  I  was 
an  expert  in  fishing ;  thought  he  could  not  instruct 
me  in  catching  souls  and  wished  me  abundant  suc- 
cess. I  had  the  pleasure  in  a  few  days  of  seeing  him- 
self, wife  and  older  children  soundly  converted  and 
received  into  the  church.  They  were  very  helpful 
in  the  work,  and  he  would  often  thank  God  when 
he  met  me^  that  I  had  caught  chubh. 


Crossing  Swords. 


26 


CHAPTEE  III. 


CROSSING    SWORDS. 


tj^UKING  the  revival  in  Merchant  Street,  one  of 
J^  the  prominent  citizens  became  very  hostile  to 
the  work  and  violently  opposed  it,  doing  all  in 
his  power  to  keep  people  from  the  meeting  and  to  pre- 
judice the  community  against  it.  Much  prayer  was 
offered  in  his  behalf  and  two  of  our  zealous  brethren 
determined  to  visit  him  and  warn  him  of  his  danger. 
They  found  him  at  home  and  opened  their  batteries 
upon  him.  They  told  him  that  he  was  fighting 
against  God  and  that  he  was  unequal  to  the  contest. 
No  man  could  successfully  contend  with  his  Maker, 
and  if  he  continued  to  "  harden  his  neck  "  he  would 
suddenly  be  destroyed  and  that  without  remedy. 
They  assured  him  that  he  stood  in  the  way  of  others, 
was  hindering  the  work,  and  God  would  certainly  put 
his  hand  upon  him ;  they  had  come  in  the  name  of 
God  to  warn  him,  etc.  They  told  him  a  great  deal 
of  honest  truth,  but  it  only  irritated  and  roused  him 
to  a  fury.  They  asked  the  privilege  of  praying  with 
him,  but  he  ordered  them  from  the  house,  and  seizing 
first  one  and  then  the  other,  he  hurled  them  out  of 
doors.  They  fell  on  their  knees  in  the  dooryard  and 
with  loud  cries  and  supplications  prayed  most  vehe- 
mentlv  for  his  salvation,  until  he  came  out  with  an 


20         Bemlniseence^  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

ax-helve  in  his  hand  and  drove  them  from  his  prem- 
ises.    They  departed  rejoicing  that  they  were  con- 
sidered worthy  to  suffer  persecution  for  Clirist's  sake. 
I  trembled  for  the  result  and  suggested  to  them  that 
their  zeal  was  not  wisely  directed ;  but  they  were 
sure  they  had  done  their  duty  and  pushed  on  to 
achieve  new  victories.     I  coukf  sleep  but  little  that 
night ;  the  case  of  the  poor  frantic  man  burdened  mv 
spirit,  and  I  asked  God  to  overrule  this  affair  for  the 
salvation  of  the  man  and  open  some  way  by  which  we 
could  reach  him.     AVe  heard  every  day  about  his 
railing  at  the  meetings.     I  had  an  intense  anxiety 
for  his  salvation  and  that  of  his  family.     One  morn- 
ing I  went  to  visit  him  ;  found  him  alone  working  in 
his  hayiield.     He  gave  me  rather  a  rough  reception, 
but  I  paid  no  attention  to  his  ravings,  inquired  about 
his  farm,  how  much  hay  he  cut  to  the  acre  and  so  on. 
I  told  him  I  needed  physical  exercise,  and  if  he  would 
get  me  a  rake  I  would  help  him  while  I  remained. 
He  swore  violently  that  the  "  priests  "  were  a  lazy 
set  of   busybodies  in  other  men's  matters,  and  he 
was  glad  of   the  chance  to  put  one  through  and 
swore  wickedly  that  I  should  have  enough  of  it.     I 
took  off  my  coat  and  went  to  work  with  a  will.     It 
took  some  time  to  calm  him  down,  for  he  could  not 
get  over  the  visit  of  the  two  brethren  a  few  days 
before.     I  told  him  that  they  were  good  mtm  and 
wanted  to  do  him  good ;  that  if  he  had  let  them  pray 
with  him,  as  they  believed  it  was  a  duty  that  God 
required  of  them,  all  would  have  been  pleasant.    But 
he  swore  that  no  crazy  Methodist  should  ever  pray 


Crossing  Swords, 


27 


in  his  house.  I  led  the  conversation  to  other  subjects 
and  on  the  whole  had  an  agreeable  visit.  As  the 
"horns"  began  to  blow  in  the  neighborhood  for 
dinner  I  proposed  to  leave,  when  to  my  surprise  he 
invited  me  to  dine  with  him.  I  told  him  I  thought 
the  family  with  whom  I  was  staying  would  expect 
me  back,  but  he  was  urgent  and  I  willingly  allowed 
him  to  persuade  me  to  remain.  He  introduced  me 
to  his  wife  as  "a  minister  who  was  not  afraid  of 
work,"  and  asked  her  to  give  me  an  extra  good  din- 
ner, for  1  '*  had  worked  like  a  beaver." 

We  had  a  good  dinner  and  a  better  visit.  When 
about  to  leave  I  said  to  him,  "  Mr.  S.,  I  have  enjoyed 
this  interview;  we  have  worked  and  visited  and 
eaten  together,  and  if  you  are  willing  I  would  con- 
sider it  a  favor  if  we  might  pray  together."  His 
wife  said  she  really  wished  I  would  pray,  and  Mr.  S. 
said  I  had  worked  so  well  I  ought  to  have  the  privi- 
lege. As  I  bowed  in  prayer,  to  my  surprise  Mr.  S. 
and  his  wife  both  knelt  with  me,  and  she  wept  aloud 
and  begged  for  mercy.  We  all  rose  from  the  mercy 
seat  bathed  in  tears,  and  both  were  ready  to  listen 
to  my  counsels.  I  was  to  resume  my  rounds  on  the 
circuit  in  a  few  days,  and  at  their  request  engaged 
to  spend  the  night  with  them  on  my  return. 

The  next  evening  Mr.  S.  attended  the  meeting  and 
asked  the  prayers  of  the  people.  His  wife  sent  me 
a  note  saying  she  was  prevented  from  coming  by 
indisposition,  but  was  earnestly  seeking  religion  and 
begged  prayers  in  her  behalf.  I  never  saw  her  again 
alive;  she  died  about  a  week  after  my  departure, 


28        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

trusting  in  Christ,  and  I  was  called  back  to  attend 
her  funeral.    Her  husband  was  converted  and  became 
an  active,  influential  member  of  the  church.     "And 
others  save  with  fear,  pulling  them  out  of  the  fire." 
During  the  progress  of  the  revival.  Elder  S.,  a 
Baptist  preacher  from  an  adjoining  town,  came  in 
with  one  of  his  deacons  to  establish  the  converts. 
They  did  not  come  to  the  meeting  to  help  on  the 
work,  but  went  from  house  to  house  to  teach  them 
that  sprinkling  was  of  the  devil,  and  if  they  would 
enter  heaven  they  must  follow  their  Lord  beneath 
the  waves  of  Jordan.     After  devoting  two  full  days 
to  proselyting  the  converts  they  came  into  the  meet- 
ing, late  in  the  evening,  and  took  a  seat  near  the 
door.     As  the  pulpit  was  in  the  other  end  of  the 
house  I  was  not  aware  of  their  presence,  and  there- 
fore could  not  extend  to  the  Rev.  brother  the  usual 
ministerial  courtesy.     The  text  that  evening  was, 
"  My  Beloved  is  mine  and  I  am  his,  he  feedeth  among 
the  lilies."     After  sermon  we  had  a  season  of  prayer 
for  the  seekers  who  still  crowded  the  "mourners' 
bench."     Several   were   converted.     This  was  fol- 
lowed by  brief  testimonies  from  old  and  young — all 
warm  in   the  love  of    God.     Just   before  closing. 
Elder  S.  rose  and  made  some  remarks ;  said  he  was 
greatly  interested  in  the  sermon;   thought  of  the 
beauty  of  the  figures — the  Savior  among  the  lilies. 
As  he  had  passed  along  by  the  water  he  had  often 
observed  the  lilies   gracefully   bowing  before  the 
waves  as  they  glided  over  the  beautiful  flowers, 
washing  and   refreshing  them.     So  all   who  were 


!^'^-lA».■;;*aAsaa,^'.rf«>A»3B»^^;■:;>.a■Jfc.l■rf■>^«■A^^^ 


Crossing  Swords. 


29 


really  converted  should  gladly  go  down  into  the 
water,  following  the  example  of  their  blessed  Savior, 
whom  John  immersed  in  Jordan.     As  he  resumed 
his  seat  I  remarked  that  I  had  not  the  pleasure  of 
an  acquaintance   with  the    brother  who  had   just 
addressed  us,  but  perceived  he  was  interested  in  the 
church  relations  of  the  converts.     But  he  had  totally 
misapprehended  my  text.     Solomon  had  no  refer- 
ence to  pond-lilies  growing  in  stagnant  pools,  but  to 
the  beautiful  lilies  of  the  vaUey  which  were  abun- 
dant in  Palestine.     The  figure  was  Solomon  walking 
in  the  royal  garden,  amid  the  bloom  and  fragrance 
of  these  gorgeous  flowers ;  and  the  application  was 
witnessed    this  evening  in  the  meeting  as   Christ 
blessed  the  converts.      Solomon  was  too  -wise  and 
refined  to  represent   his  beloved  as  wallowing  in 
muddy  water  among  pond-lilies.     The  converts  in 
this  revival  had  no  taste  for  stagnant  ponds  and 
muddy   streams,   but  preferred  in  due  time  to  be 
sprinkled  by  clean  water  according  to  the  teaching 
of  the  Prophet  Isaiah.     But  for  the  present  we  must 
push  on  the  revival  till  all  our  dear  friends  be  con- 
verted.    I  advised  them  to  pay  no  attention  to  those 
who  were  crying  water  I  water !  from  house  to  house, 
but  keep  the  fir^  burning. 

The  brethren  and  converts,  warm  in  the  love  of 
Christ,  caught  the  spirit  of  the  exhortation  and  with 
songs  and  shouts  we  closed  the  meeting.  The  elder 
and  his  deacon  left  that  night.  As  they  got  into 
their  wagon,  a  wag  said  for  their  benefit :  "  There 
go  the  pond-lilies." 


30         Reirdniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

The  elder  preached  the  following  Sunday  in  his 
own  town  on  "Judas  Iscariot,"  claiming  that  "he 
was  a  devil  when  Christ  called  him  to  the  Apostle- 
ship  ;  that  God  made  him  for  the  very  work  he  per- 
formed, and  that  he  glorified  God  as  much  as  did 
Peter  or  John ;  that  he  never  fell  from  grace  because 
he  never  had  any  to  fall  from,  but  was  a  fair  sample 
of  Methodist  backsliding/'  He  made  a  bitter  attack 
on  the  revival  at  Merchant  Street  and  Methodism 
in  general.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  our 
class  leader  announced  that  this  sermon  would  be 
answered  by  the  "boy  preacher'*  in  two  weeks  from 
that  day,  when  he  came  to  his  regular  appointment. 
The  good  leader  notified  me  of  the  engagement,  and, 
bov  that  I  was,  I  thouiifht  I  must  obev.  I  made  the 
best  preparation  I  could.  I  found  a  large  crowd 
when  I  reached  the  place,  both  of  friends  and  oppo- 
sers,  Elder  S.  among  them.  I  began  with  fear  and 
trembling,  but  God  lifted  me  above  circumstances, 
and  I  have  never  realized  in  a  ministrv  of  fiftv 
years  more  divine  aid  than  I  did  at  that  time.  The 
class  leader  who  had  been  feeling  the  responsibility 
of  the  meeting  was  exultant,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
sermon  sang  triumphantly : 


i( 


The  world,  John  Calvin,  and  Tom  Paine, 
May  hate  the  Methodists  in  vain. 
I  know  the  Lord  will  them  increase, 
And  fill  the  world  with  Methodists." 


All  our  friends  joined   "lustily"   in    the    singing. 
I  gave  the  Elder  an  invitation  to  reply,  but  he  said 


CrO'Ssing  Sivonh. 


31 


it  was  getting  late  and  he  would  defer  his  reply 
until  another  time. 

As  an  example  of  the  zeal  and  ])romptness  of  the 
times,  I  will  give  an  instance  which  occurred  in  one 
of  our  meetings.  A  rabid,  fiery  op}>oser  of  religion 
greatly  annoyed  the  worshipers  by  railing  at  ever^ 
opportunity  in  the  meetings  against  the  cruelty 
of  the  "  partialist's  God,"  as  he  phrased  it,  ;ind 
denouncing  those  who  believed  in  future  punish- 
ment. Butler  Huhhard,  a  young  man  of  deep  piety 
and  intelligence,  but  somewhat  eccentric,  and  a  great 
favorite  in  the  community,  was  an  efficient  helper 
in  the  work.  One  day  when  the  man  was  speaking 
in  his  usual  style,  Butler  rose  from  his  seat  and 
glided  swiftly  through  the  house  to  where  the  man 
stood,  placed  his  right  hand  with  closed  fingers  and 
raised  thumb,  before  the  lips  of  the  zealous  speaker, 
who  became  confused  and  stood  in  silence.  The 
serious  young  man  shouted,  "  Open  your  mouth  my 
friend  I  I  saw  the  head  of  the  serpent  while  you 
were  speaking — open  your  mouth  that  I  may  get 
hold  of  him,  and  Vll  jt>?/Z/  the  dsvil  out  of  youP 
The  man  sat  down  confounded  and  was  never  known 
to  disturb  a  meeting  afterwards. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  those  scenes  occurred 
in  a  new  country,  in  a  crude  state  of  society,  and, 
instead  of  retarding  the  work,  were  a  means  of 
increasing  it.  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way  his 
wonders  to  perform ;  has  chosen  his  own  instrumen- 
talities in  every  age,  adapting  them  to  the  condition 
of  things  and  the  work  to  be  performed;  causing 


32        Revniniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

even  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  and  over- 
ruling seeming  evils  for  his  glory  and  the  good  of 
souls.  Let  the  church  of  to-day  thank  God  for  her 
superior  advantages  and  look  for  an  increase  of  pen- 
tecostal  unction  and  power. 

^  Near  the  school  house  in  Merchant  Street  lived  a 
family  by  the  name  of  E.  None  of  them  professed 
religion,  but  manifested  an  aversion  to  it,  and  were 
opposed  to  the  meeting.  The  man  and  his  wife 
attended,  more  or  less,  but  seemed  unaffected  by  it. 
Much  prayer  was  offered  for  them.  They  were  ten- 
derly and  urgently  entreated  to  seek  the  salvation 
of  their  souls.  But  thev  became  more  and  more 
indifferent,  and  finally  absented  themselves  from 
the  meetings,  and  would  not  allow  their  children  to 
attend. 

They  were  visited  by  their  pious  neighbors  who 
cared  for  their  salvation,  and  with  tears  and  en- 
treaties urged  to  give  themselves  to  Christ.  But 
they  indignantly  repelled  their  earnest  solicitations, 
"  wished  people  would  mind  their  own  business,  and 
they  would  take  care  of  themselves." 

One  morning  the  community  was  astounded  to 
learn  that  Mr.  E.  was  a  raving  maniac.  It  took 
several  persons  to  manage  him,  and  required  four 
strong  men  to  hold  him  down.  His  mind  ran  on 
religious  subjects,  and  all  the  hatred  of  his  nature 
was  aroused  against  it.  He  imagined  himself  fight- 
ing against  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  praying 
people,  and  poured  the  most  bitter  curses  and  invec- 
tives upon  them.     During  the  day  I  visited  him  and 


Crossing  Swords. 


33 


witnessed  a  most  shocking  sight.  He  lay  on  the 
floor,  on  a  large  field  bed,  with  strong  straps  across 
his  body  and  limbs,  held  down  by  six  stalwart  men. 
He  was  foaming  at  the  mouth,  his  countenance  livid 
with  rage,  and  vociferating  the  most  horrid  oaths. 
He  succeeded  in  liberating  one  of  his  hands,  and 
seizing  a  chair,  within  his  reach,  hurled  it  at  me 
with  a  force  that  shattered  it  as  it  struck  the  wall 
near  me.  I  was  not  aware  that  my  presence  made 
him  worse,  till  his  keepers  begged  me  to  leave  as 
quickly  as  possible,  as  he  was  becoming  unmanagea- 
ble, and  they  feared  he  would  writhe  out  of  their 
hands.  It  was  said  that  a  minister  could  not  pass  his 
house  for  days  without  throwing  him  into  convulsions, 
though  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  see  or  hear  them 
from  the  road.  I  have  since  seen  insane  men,  in  all 
stages  of  the  disease,  but  never  witnessed*  one  so  " 
utterly  frantic  as  this  one.  it  made  me  think  of  the 
demoniac  of  Gadara,  who  was  "  exceeding  fierce,  so 
that  no  man  might  pass  that  way,  and  no  man  could 
bind  him,  no  not  with  chains." 

A  few  days  afterwards  as  I  was  passing  his  house, 
he  broke  from  his  keepers  and  rushed  for  the  road. 
He  came  howling  over  the  bars,  his  keepers  after 
him  shouting  to  me  to  nm  for  my  life,  but  I  could 
not  take  in  the  danger  until  he  had  me  in  his  arms. 
In  an  instant  he  became  calm ;  his  hatred  was  turned 
to  love,  and  as  his  keepers  seized  him  he  swore  that 
if  any  one  touched  me  he  would  knock  his  brains 
out.     He  declared  that  I  was  ''  as  pure  as  an  angel," 

held  up  my  hand  to  show  them  that  my  "blood 

3 


/ 


iiil^^^i^li^lgi 


^^^sgOeu^^ 


34        Reminiscences  of  Ewrly  Circuit  Life. 

was  pure."  The  tables  were  turned.  The  lion  had 
become  a  lamb.  His  keepers  were  frightened. 
They  expected  that  I  would  fall  a  victim  to  liis 
rage.  It  was  the  first  gentle  emotion  which  he  had 
exhibited  since  his  reason  was  dethroned.  It  was  to 
me  a  fresh  proof  of  God's  promise:  "He  shall 
give  his  angels  charge  over  thee  to  keep  thee  in  aU 
thy  ways,"  and  of  Bishop  Coke's  sentiment :  "  Man 
is  immortal  till  his  work  is  done."  The  great  Healer 
of  Gadara  is  still  potent,  and  at  His  mandate,  "  Come 
out  of  him  thou  unclean  spirit,"  devils  fear  and  fly. 

His  keepers  could  not  get  him  back  to  the  house, 
but  he  yielded  readily  to  my  influence.  I  took  him 
by  the  arm,  and  led  him  gently  to  his  home ;  and 
ever  afterwards  in  his  worst  paroxysms,  I  could 
soothe  him  into  quiet.  After  a  few  weeks  his  insan- 
ity became  less  violent,  and  took  the  type  of  mis- 
chievousness.  One  man  and  Mrs.  E.  could  manage 
him,  but  he  was  a  great  annoyance  to  the  neighbor- 
hood. One  Sabbath  during  meeting  time,  he  eluded 
his  keepers,  and  burst  into  the  meeting  shouting, 
"  Bro.  E.,  let  me  preach ;  let  me  preach ! "  He 
sprang  into  the  desk  and  began  to  command  the 
people  to  "come  to  the  mourner's  bench"  or  he 
would  send  them  to  hell.  He  had  a  heavy  stick  in 
his  hand,  which  he  brandished  over  their  heads, 
frightening  the  women  and  children. 

After  a  while  I  got  his  attention  and  proposed  to 
go  home  with  him  and  get  his  wife  converted.  This 
took  with  him.  His  wife  was  a  large  strong  woman ; 
had  always  been  accustomed  to  manage  him,  and  he 


Crossing  Sioo7'ds.  35 

thought  if  we  could  "  get  the  devil  out  of  her  "  as  he 
expressed  it,  she  would  let  him  go  to  meeting     So  I 
took  him  home,  and  then  returned  to  the  meeting  • 
but  right  in  the  midst  of  class-meeting  he  came  in 
dressed  m  his  wife's  cloak  and  hood,  with  an  ei^ht 
quart  pan   fuU  of  fried   cakes  which  he  had   pur 
loined  from  the  pantry,  unknown  to  his  wife,  and 
shppmg  out  at  the  back  door,  ran  to  the  school-house 
and  gave  them  to  me  saying  that  they  would  last 
me  a  week  and  make  me  "preach  hke  thunder  and 
hghtning  "     We  dismissed  the  meeting  and  sent  the 
cakes  to  his  wife,  hoping  his  keepers  would  guard 
him  more  closely  thereafter  during  the  houi^  of  ser 
vice. 

In  going  down   the  street  one  morning  in  the 
spring  I  saw  him  standing  in  the  door  of  a  house,  by 
the  roadside,  throwing  water  into  the  house,  and 
heard  a  woman  shrieking  violently.     Fearing  trouble 
1  ran  and  found  a  trembling  woman  crouching  over 
a  child  which  she  was  trying  to  cover  with  her  per- 
son,  while  Mr.   E.   stood   between  two  barrels  of 
water  throwing  it  from  a  pail  upon  them.     He  came 
and  proposed  to  baptize  her;  she  plead  that  she  had 
been  baptized,  but  he  said  his  baptism  would  wash 
away  her  sms,  and  commanded  her  to  sit  down  in  a 
chair,  and   he  had  thrown  more  than  a  barrel  of 
water  upon  them  when.  providentiaUy,  I  came  to  the 
rescue.     But  mother  and  child  were  nearly  drowned 
Ihe  woman  declared  that  she  could  not  have  lived 
much  longer. 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  I  enticed  him  from  the 


36        Beminiscences  of  Early  Cirouit  Life, 

house.  I  proposed  that  he  go  to  the  school-house 
with  me  and  preach.  That  diverted  his  attention 
from  the  baptism. 

On  entering  the  school-house  he  locked  the  door, 
and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket,  and  resisted  all  my 
efforts  to  get  possession  of  it  for  more  than  an  hour. 
I  then  saw  the  folly  of  trusting  myself  to  an  insane 
man,  and  giving  him  such  an  advantage  over  me. 
It  was  no  time  to  quail,  for  anything  like  cowardice 
would  be  sure  to  turn  his  thoughts  to  evil  designs,  so 
for  a  time  I  yielded  to  his  whim  to  teach  me  how 
to  seat  a  congreation,  and  conduct  a  meeting.  The 
more  I  endeavored  to  get  out  of  the  house,  the  more 
careful  he  became  to  keep  me  in,  and  ever}^  artifice 
failed.  After  more  than  an  hour  had  passed,  and 
there  was  less  prospect  of  escape  than  at  first,  I  be- 
came desperate  and  taking  advantage  of  his  being  at 
the  further  side  of  the  room,  undertook  to  raise. a 
window,  but  noticing  my  movement  he  sprang  like 
a  tiger,  and  jerked  me  violently  into  the  middle  of 
the  floor,  his  eyes  flashing  with  rage.  It  took  me 
some  time  to  calm  his  exasperated  spirit. 

But  God  overruled  this  movement  for  good.  He 
was  determined  to  fasten  the  windows,  and  I  pre- 
vailed on  him  to  let  me  go  out  to  get  a  stone  with 
which  to  drive  the  nails.  He  came  out  to  help  me 
find  one,  and  I  soon  led  his  mind  to  something  else. 
It  took  me  sometime  to  get  him  home,  this  being  the 
onlv  wav  I  could  £:et  rid  of  him. 

After  this  another  effort  was  made  to  induce  the 
town  authorities  to  take  him  into  custody.     They 


Crossing  Swords.  37 

sent  a  physician  to  examine  the  case  who  advised  his 
friends  to  take  him  on  a  journey,  keep  him  in  the 
open  air  as  much  as  possible,  among  strangers ;  avoid 
irritating  or  exciting  him,  and  he  thought  that  after 
a  few  months  he  might  recover. 

His  wife  took  him  in  a  gig  to  one  of  the  Eastern 
States,  among  his  friends,  and  before  their  return  I 
had   been  appointed  to  another  field  of  labor.     I 
learned  afterwards  that  he  was  so  far  recovered  as 
to  work  his  farm,  and  do  some  business ;  but  he  never 
fuUy  regained  his  mind  so  as  to  be  the  man  he  was 
before.     Had  he  yielded  to  the  strivings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  complied  with  the  gospel  call,  and  given  his 
heart  to  God,  as  did  most  of  his  neighbors,  he  might 
have  escaped    the    terrible   ordeal,   and   been  one 
of  God's  lights  along  the  shore.     '' Because  they 
received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they  might 
be  saved.    And  for  this  cause  God  shall  send  them 
strong  delusions,  that  they  should  believe  a  lie." 
"  Wandering  stars,  to  whom  is  reserved  the  black- 
ness of  darkness  forever." 


38        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTEK  lY. 


SHOCKS  FROM  THE  BATTERY. 


J'JIIE  incessant  labors  of  the  circuit,  and  especially 
of  the  four  days'  meetings,  often  protracted  into 
weeks,  began  to  tell  upon  my  naturally  frail 
constitution.      I  consulted  a  physician  and  he  pre- 
scribed rest,  and  gave  me  a  large  dose  of  calomel 
and  jalap. 

I  was  to  take  it  early  in  the  morning ;  and  being  at 
Peru,  a  neighborhood  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Moira 
Corners,  had  to  ride  to  Quaker  Settlement  to  my 
appointment,  at  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  distance 
of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles.  It  was  a  hot,  rainy  day 
when  I  reached  Lawrenceville.  The  doctor  strove  to 
dissuade  me  from  going  on,  but  I  was  determined  not 
to  disappoint  my  congregation  if  it  was  possible  to 
reach  the  place.  I  rode  on  through  the  woods  to  the 
point  where  I^orth  Lawrence  now  is.  Here  we 
diverged  from  the  main  road  to  the  right,  by  a  bridle 
path  that  led  along  the  east  bank  of  the  St.  Eegis 
river,  down  to  Cropsy's  Mill ;  then  took  an  easterly 
course  through  a  lumber  road  to  the  settlement.  I 
presume  as  the  country  was  cleared  up,  more  direct 
roads  were  laid  out,  shortening  the  distance.  When 
going  down  the  bank  of  the  St.  Eegis  river,  perhaps 
four  or  five  miles  from  a  house,  I  became  so  ill  that  I 
could  not  keep  my  saddle;  and  dismounting,  thor- 


Shock^  from  the  Battery. 


39 


oughly  wet  with  the  rain,  and  too  sick  to  hitch  my 
horse,  I  lay  down  in  the  dense  woods,  under  the  shade 
of  a  large  tree,  so  sick  that  I  had  no  care  whether  I 
lived  or  died.  I  lay  there  some  hours,  and  began  to 
feel  a  little  better ;  but  so  stiffened  by  lying  in  my 
wet  clothes,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  could 
move.  Turning  on  my  knees  and  face,  1  cried  unto  my 
covenant  keeping  God  for  help,  and  faithful  to  his 
word,  "  Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  and  I  will 
answer  thee ;"  He  "  covered  nie  with  his  feathers," 
and  was  to  me  ''  As  a  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a 
weary  land."  I  could  say  with  David,  "I  was 
brought  low,  and  He  helpedme." 

My  faithful  horse,  though  spirited,  had  not  left  me ; 
but  browsed  among  the  bushes,  coming  up  every  httle 
while  to  the  place  where  I  lay  to  see  if  I  was  still 
there,  and  when  I  mounted  him  moved  off  carefully. 
His  instinct  seemed  to  teach  him  that  he  must  move 
with  care. 

I  could  not  sit  erect  in  the  saddle,  but  laying  my 
head  on  my  camlet  cloak,  strapped  on  the  front  pad, 
and  stretching  out  my  feet  over  the  valise  and  um- 
brella on  the  back  pad,  I  was  supported,  and  moved 
on  with  tolerable  safety.  My  soul  looked  up  to  God 
in  the  beautiful  lines  of  Kay  Palmer— 

"  May  thy  rich  grace  impart 
Strength  to  my  fainting  heart, 

My  zeal  inspire ; 
As  thou  hast  died  for  me, 
O  may  my  love  to  thee 
Pure,  warm,  and  changeless  be,— 
A  living  fire." 


40         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

And  oh!  how  his  love  did  fill  my  heart.  "The 
living  fire,"  "  Pure,  warm,  and  changeless,"  strength- 
ened "  My  fainting  heart,"  and  I  was  happy.  I  felt 
thankful  to  suffer  for  my  Master ;  to  be  permitted  to 
tell  the  story  of  the  cross  to  dying  men,  and  renewed 
my  consecration  to  his  work.  I  think,  I  was  never 
happier  in  my  life  than  Avhen  stretched  on  "Charlie 
Black,"  burning  with  fever,  drenched  by  the  falling 
rain,  and  slowly  moving  towards  Quaker  Settlement. 

The  shocks  from  God's  battery,  when  I  touched  it 
by  faith,  thrille<l  my  soul  with  delight,  and  I  could 
not  have  been  happier  on  a  bed  of  down.  Time 
passed  so  delightfully  that  I  did  not  notice  when  I 
entered  the  settlement,  till  my  horse  brought  up  at 
the  bars  before  the  house  of  Bro.  Chamberlain,  our 
accustomed  stopping  place. 

I  had  gone  through  the  settlement  unconsciously 
singing  a  hymn  at  the  top  of  my  voice  with  this 
refrain : 

"O  I'm  happy  soul  and  body, 
And  a  happy  soul  I  be  : 
0  I  am  happy  soul  and  body, 
And  I'll  sound  the  jubilee." 

Brother  and  Sister  Chamberlain  cared  for  me  very 
tenderly,  and  at  the  meeting  God  fed  us  with  manna, 
— angel's  food, — the  bread  of  Heaven.  Oh !  it  is  a 
luxury  to  minister  to  God's  precious  saints,  and  re- 
joice with  them  at  the  banquet  of  mercy. 

I  went  to  my  lodgings  that  night  nearly  well,  and 
in  the  morning  arose  refreshed,  and  pushed  on  to  my 
next  appointment,  with  a  bright  sky,  and  a  balmy  air. 


Shocks  from  the  Battery. 


41 


The  baptism  of  love  more  than  paid  me  for  all  my 
sufferings. 

"  O  what  are  all  my  sufferings  here, 

If,  Lord,  thou  count  me  meet 
With  the  enraptured  host  to  appear, 

And  worship  at  thy  feet ! 
"  Give  joy  or  grief,  give  ease  or  pain, 

Take  life  or  friends  away. 
But  let  me  find  them  all  again 
In  that  eternal  day." 

We  held  a  four-day's  meeting  at  Quaker  Settle- 
ment in  the  autumn  of  183^.  It  began  at  my  regular 
week  day  appointment  on  Thursday  evening,  and 
was  to  continue  over  the  Sabbath.  It  was  an  excel- 
lent meeting ;  the  church  was  greatly  quickened,  and 
several  sinners  were  converted.  We  had  a  good 
class  at  this  place.  Some  of  the  members  had  a  deep 
experience ;  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  perfect  love ; 
exemplified  "the  beauty  of  holiness,"  and  were 
useful  in  the  work. 

A  Bro.  Meecham,  (I  think  his  name  was),  an  ex- 
horter,  and  another  layman  from  Merchant  street, 
went  with  me  to  assist  in  the  meeting,  and  were  effi- 
cient helpers.  Brother  M.  frequently  fell  under  the 
"power"  as  it  was  called.  His  exercises  were  pecu- 
liar in  this  state,  differing  somewhat  from  any  other 
I  had  ever  witnessed.  Instead  of  remaining  motion- 
less  in  a  cataleptic  state,  he  would  quake  and  quiver, 
his  whole  frame  being  in  a  state  of  agitation.  There 
were  two  families  of  orthodox  Quakers  living  in  the 
place.  They  were  very  devoted  persons,  and  when 
they  saw  Brother  M.  fall  and  shake,  were  gi^eatly 


42         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

moved,  and  they  would  stand  over  him  and  weep, 
making  demonstrations  of  deep  interest. 

They  said,  *'  This  is  just  the  kind  of  exercises  the 
Friends  used  to  have  at  their  origin,  when  in  their 
primitive  simplicity  and  purity,  and  this  is  why  they 
were  called  Quakers."  They  became  warmly  attached 
to  him,  and  showed  him  marked  attention.  They 
were  most  excellent  families  and  adorned  their  pro- 
fession with  well  ordered  lives  and  Godly  conversa- 
tion. They  took  great  interest  in  me  as  "The  boy 
preacher;"  invited  me  to  their  homes,  and  showed 
me  much  kindness. 

I  admired  their  devout  spirit,  their  plain  simple 
language,  and  exemplary  conduct.  It  was  my  first 
acquaintance  \vith  the  Friends,  and  I  found  many 
things  among  them  to  admire ;  and  my  subsequent 
knowledge  of  them  has  not  lessened  my  confidence, 
or  weakened  my  affection  for  them.  Have  always 
found  the  old  orthodox  Quakers  a  sincere  and  Godly 
people.  I  took  a  deep  interest  in  their  family  devo- 
tions. When  we  came  to  the  table  for  our  meals, 
they  would  fold  their  hands  and  sit  in  silence  for 
a  short  time,  listening  to  the  "  voice  within "  and 
giving  thanks  to  our  common  Father,  for  the  bounties 
of  His  hand.  At  the  close  of  the  silent  grace,  the 
head  of  the  family  would  say  to  me,  "  Friend  James, 
we'll  not  ask  thee  to  ask  the  blessing,  but  thee  can 
use  thy  liberty,  just  as  thee  would  among  thy  own 
people ;  answer  thy  conscience."  I  would  bow  my 
head  and  ask  a  blessing,  with  which  they  seemed 
well  pleased.     So  also  at  the  hour  of  family  worship. 


ShocTcs  from  the  Battery. 


43 


I 


They  would  lay  aside  all  secular  things,  and  gather 
in  a  semi-circle  around  the  great  Dutch  fire-place ; 
put  themselves  in  a  devout  attitude,  and  sit  in  silence 
for  several  minutes,  with  folded  hands  and  closed 
eyes,  only  interrupted  by  the  frequent  deep  drawn 
sighs,  which  seemed  to  be  part  of  their  devotions. 
At  the  close  of  their  silent  service,  the  man  would 
say  as  before,  "  Friend  James,  we  cannot  ask  thee  to 
pray  with  us ;  that  is  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
instruct  thee  when  and  how  to  pray ;  but  we  wish 
thee  to  answer  thy  conscience,  and  '  obey  the  voice 
within.'     Will  thee  have  the  word  ? " 

I  always  replied,  yes,  and  a  Bible  was  brought 
me.  I  read  a  chapter  and  offered  prayer  ;  they  all, 
both  parents  and  children  knelt  with  me  and  assisted 
in  my  form  of  worship  as  cordially  as  I  had  joined 
in  theirs,  and  seemed  greatly  pleased  to  have  me  use 
my  liberty  and  be  at  home  among  them.  Indeed, 
they  showed  more  reverence  and  respect  by  having 
their  children  kneel  during  the  prayer,  than  some 
of  our  own  families  do.  I  have  been  in  Methodist 
families,  when  at  family  worship  the  children  who 
did  not  profess  religion,  would  sit  in  their  chairs 
gazing  around  as  if  they  had  no  part  or  lot  in  the 
matter.  It  seems  as  if  every  well  conducted  family, 
during  prayers,  should  teach  their  children  to  bow 
their  "knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,"  and  reverentlv  kneel  with  the  familv.  I 
seldom  go  into  a  family  where  the  children  keep 
their  seats  during  prayer,  but  I  am  reminded  of 
Bro.  Ayers,   of  Vermont,  who  held  special  meet- 


44        Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

ings  in  Malone,  N.  Y.,  about  fifty-two  years  ago. 
He  was  an  earnest,  but  eccentric  man.  In  visiting 
one  of  the  families,  he  offered  prayer  before  leaving, 
as  was  the  custom  of  the  day  among  the  Methodists. 
All  knelt,  except  John,  a  son  of  about  fifteen  years, 
who  sat  upright  in  his  chair.  The  minister  prayed 
earnestly  for  each  member  of  the  family  by  name. 
When  he  came  to  the  son,  he  said  :  "  O  Lord  bless 
John ;  poor  fool,  he  don't  know  enough  to  kneel  in 
prayer  time.  Teach  him  good  manners,  and  how  to 
be  a  gentleman  and  kneel  when  any  one  thinks 
enough  of  him  to  pray  for  him;  give  him  respect 
enough  for  his  parents  to  kneel  with  them ;  awaken 
him,  convert  him,  and  make  a  man  of  him." 

It  was  a  reproof  to  the  parents  for  neglecting  to 
teach  their  children  the  rules  of  propriety,  and  a 
rebuke  to  John  for  the  neglect  of  the  courtesies  of 
life.  In  this  instance  it  proved  effectual,  for  it  led 
the  parents  to  point  out  to  their  children  the  pro- 
priety and  beauty  of  a  compliance  with  the  usages 
of  family  worship. 

The  fault  is  generally  with  the  parents  in  such 
cases,  because  it  is  their  duty  like  the  Patriarch 
Abraham  "  who  commanded  his  children  and  house- 
hold, to  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord."  When  children 
are  properly  instructed  in  such  matters,  they  usually 
cheerfully  comply  with  the  requirements. 

Oh !  for  a  Bro.  Ayers  to  go  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  Christendom  to  pray  for  our  families 
as  he  prayed  for  John ! 

Soon  after  the  Merchant  Street  revival,  at  one  of 


■MM 


MMMfciiiaAiiiiWmaMifciaiitea^itiriiilM 


Shocks  from  the  Battery. 


45 


my  Sabbath  morning  appointments  at  Lawrenceville, 
we  had  a  singular  meeting,  that  was  always  after- 
wards referred  to  as  the  "  weeping  meeting." 

We  held  our  meetings  usually  in  Bro.  Blish's  large 
carpenter's  shop.  It  was  swept  out  every  Saturday 
evening ;  planks  were  placed  on  sap  tubs,  for  seats, 
and  it  would  hold  quite  a  large  congregation ;  much 
larger  than  the  school  house,  which  was  occupied  by 
other  denominations.  Brother  Bhsh  was  the  class 
leader,  and  his  house  the  home  of  the  minister. 
Sister  Blish  was  an  estimable  woman,  a  sister  of  the 
wife  of  Bishop  Elijah  Hedding,  D.D. ;  a  truly  devoted 
Christian  woman,  and  an  active  and  useful  member 
of  the  church. 

One  bright  and  beautiful  Sabbath,  in  the  early 
autumn,  the  congregation  being  unusually  large,  the 
influence  of  the  revival  at  Merchant  Street  being 
felt  among  them,  an  excellent  state  of  things  pre- 
vailed. We  had  had  a  few  conversions,  and  the 
society  were  enjoying  a  gracious  quickening. 

The  subject  that  morning  was  the  doctrine  of  the 
resurrection,  a  topic  always  inspiring  and  encour- 
aging to  the  Christian.  The  preacher  was  under  the 
divine  afflatus  ;  Christians  were  exultant  in  the  pros- 
pect of  the  resurrection  glory,  and  every  one,  both 
saint  and  sinner,  was  absorbed  in  the  theme.  A 
Pentecostal  shower  fell  copiously  upon  the  assembly. 
It  came,  not  like  a  mighty  rushing  torrent,  but  as  a 
gentle  summer  shower,  bathing  every  face  with 
tears,  and  subduing  every  voice  with  emotion. 

The  speaker's  voice  failed,  and  he  sat  down  fiUed 


46        Reminiscences  of  Ewrly  Circuit  Life. 

with  unutterable  bliss.     After  waiting  five  or  ten 
minutes,  Bro.  Jimmerson,  an  exhorter,  arose  to  close 
the  meeting,  but  utterly  failed.     After  struggling 
with  his  emotions  for  two  or  three  minutes,  he  gave 
it  up,   saving  in  a  suppressed   and  sobbing  voice, 
"  Thank  God  for  religion  that  runs  out  of  the  eyes." 
Brother  Blish,  the  class  leader,  a  cool  deliberate 
man,   who    had    great    control    of    himself,   twice 
attempted  to  dismiss  the  people,  but  only  mcreased 
the  tide  of  feeling.     The  last  time,  his  manoeuvers  to 
dismiss  the  congregation   would,  under  any  other 
circumstances,  have  appeared  ludicrous.     After  en- 
deavoring in  vain  to  speak,  he  would  stoop  down 
and  break  large  slivers  off  the   rough  planks  and 
throw  them  at  the  brethren  who  sat  on  the  front 
seats,  and  point  to  the  door,  indicating  that  it  was 
time  to  go  home,  but  no  one  started. 

The  sobbing  congregation  sat  a  little  longer,  and 
then  the  class  leader  left  the  house,  followed  by  one 
after  another  till  the  house  was  emptied. 

I  have  seen  congregations  deeply  affected  many 
times,  and  ministers  unable  to  utter  a  word,  but 
never,  on  any  other  occasion,  witnessed  a  whole 
audience  so  completely  overpowered  with  tears  that 
none  could  either  speak  or  act  for  at  least  twenty 
minutes.  I  have  never  attempted  to  account  for  it, 
only  that  it  was  one  of  those  pecuhar  religious 
excitements  which  cannot  be  explained. 

There  was  a  Presbyterian  brother,  hvmg  at  Mer- 
chant Street,  who  was  very  active  as  a  Christian 
worker.    He  was  not  a  preacher,  but  permitted  by 


Sfioclcs  from  the  Battery.  47 

his  church  to  "expound  the  Scriptures,"  and  hold 
meetings  in  back  settlements. 

He  was  a  boisterous  and  erratic  man,  but  a  sincere 
Christian.  Our  people  had  more  confidence  in  his 
goodness  than  his  discretion.  He  was  strongly 
attached  to  our  ministers,  and  always  ready  to  lend 
a  helping  hand ;  was  a  very  poor  man,  and  some 
thought  that  he  was  incUned  to  be  indolent ;  but  he 
was  anxious  that  the  IMethodist  preachers  should  be 
comfortably  supplied,  so  that  they  might  devote  all 
their  time  to  soul  savinff. 

In  order  to  contribute  his  part,  he  resolved  to  set 
apart  one  of  the  best  acres  of  land  on  his  rented 
farm,  and  cultivate  it,  giving  the  avails  to  the 
preachers.  It  was  a  pet  idea  of  his,  and  many 
prayers  were  offered  by  him  during  the  winter  and 
spring,  that  "  God's  acre,"  as  he  called  it,  might  be 
productive.  But  shrinking  from  the  labor  required 
to  cultivate  it,  he  determined  to  take  in  a  few  men 
as  "  partners,"  so  he  took  in  three  of  the  Methodist 
brethren,  hke  unto  himself,  of  the  noisy,  impetuous 
kind.  In  ploughing  it  they  had  a  prayer-meeting  at 
the  beginning,  in  the  middle,  and  at  the  end ;  asking 
God's  blessing  on  the  enterprise.  Also  when  they 
planted  they  were  frequent  in  prayer,  knowing  that 
"Paul  planteth,  and  Apollos  watereth,  but  God 
giveth  the  increase." 

They  planted  it  all  to  corn,  beheving  that  to  be 
the  most  remunerative  and  salable  crop.  They 
were  prompt  in  doing  God's  work,  even  if  they 
neglected  their  own;    but  in   hoeing  it  they  had 


ji 


il 


48        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

prayers  every  few  rows,  and  some  of  them  would 
fall  with  the  "power"  and  roll  around  over  several 
rods;  the  others,  in  an  ecstacy,  would  stamp  and 
clap  their  hands,  and  shout  around  their  fellow 
workmen,  happy  as  conquerors  over  a  great  victory. 

After  the  second  hoeing,  there  was  not  enough  of 
the  corn  left  to  pay  for  harvesting,  so  the  preachers 
(as  they  expected)  got  nothing ;  but  these  enthusi- 
astic though  well  meaning  men  had  a  good  time. 

The  leader  declared  they  had  done  their  duty,  but 
God  for  some  reason  saw  best  to  defeat  the  object, 
but  blessed  it  to  their  growth  in  grace.  Fanatics 
always  comfort  themselves  by  charging  the  results 

to  God. 

Let  it  not  be  inferred  from  all  this  travel,  preach- 
ing,   and    revival    work,    that    our    studies    were 

neglected. 

We  learned  to  economise  and  improve  time,  and 
turn  the  spare  fragments  to  good  account.  We 
always  had  a  pocket  Bible  about  us,  and  perused  its 
well  marked  pages  during  our  spare  moments.  Our 
saddle  bags  contained  our  books  of  study  and  devo- 
tion. We  made  ourselves  familiar  with  the  Hymn 
Book,  Discipline,  Biographers  of  good  men  and 
women,  Wesley's  sermons,  his  notes  on  the  New 
Testament,  Watson's  Theological  Institutes,  Diction- 
ary of  the  Bible,  Clark's  Theology,  Doctrinal  Tracts, 
bound  in  volumes,  and  other  works  of  like  character. 

These  we  read  in  the  groves,  and  before  the  great 
blazing  fires  in  the  log  houses ;  but  mostly  on  horse 
back,   during  our  long  rides  from  appointment  to 


Shocks  from  the  Battery. 


49 


appointment.  I  read  Mosheim's  Church  History, 
KoUin's  Ancient  History,  Ty tier's  General  History' 
and  several  other  works  in  that  way  during  my  first 
three  years  in  the  itinerancy.  Though  deprived  of 
the  privileges  of  the  CoUeges  and  Biblical  Institutes, 
yet  we  were  not  without  scientific  and  theological 
training. 

The  Presiding  Elders  often  supervised  the  studies 
of  the  young  preachers ;  examining  them  critically 
on  their  general  reading  and  text  books,  and  direct- 
ing them  in  a  course  of  study. 

I  owe  much  to  my  early  Presiding  Elders  for  their 
counsel  and  assistance  in  my  reading  and  studies ; 
especially  to  Squire  Chase,  and  Silas  Comfort.  The 
former  has  given  me  many  a  severe  drill  in  his 
study,  a  little  low,  poorly  lighted  chamber  in  the  old 
parsonage  in  Potsdam,  and  at  such  places  as  I  could 
meet  him  as  he  crossed  my  circuit,  or  contiguous 
charges,  as  he  made  his  busy  rounds  on  his  large 
district  of  two  or  three  counties.  I  rode  more  than 
once,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to  recite  to  him,  and 
then  as  many  more  miles  to  my  evening  appoint- 
ment. 

Peace  to  his  memory— good,  patient,  faithful  man  ; 
he  took  great  pains  to  beat  some  knowledge  into  my 
dull  pate.  And  Bro.  Comfort  in  his  scholarly  way 
took  great  pleasure  in  directing  and  assisting  me  in. 
my  studies. 

I  was  highly  favored  while  on  the  Parishville  Cir- 
cuit with  the  aid  of  my  P.  E.,  who  hved  at  Potsdam, 
a  httle  west  of  my  circuit,  and   my  excellent  col- 


I' 


50         Remintseenees  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

league,  Kev.  G.  AV.  Barney,  livin«,^  on  the  east  end, 
a  studious  man  with  a  more  ])oHshed  manner  and 
cultivated  mind  tlian  was  generally  found  in  that 
day ;  always  ready  to  help  me  through  any  of  the 
perplexing  intricacies  that  puzzled  my  brain, 

I  found  also  an  efficient  helper  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Arvilla  AVeldon,  sister  of  Mrs.  G.  W.  Harney, 
a  well  educated  and  refined  young  lady  of  deep 
piety,  just  fresh  from  the  classic  halls  of  Cazenovia. 
She*  wiis  then  the  ajfianced  of  Eev.  John  Loveys, 
and  endured  with  him  the  toils  and  labors  of  his 
itinerate  life,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  my  dear  friend 
and  fellow  laborer,  Kev.  Joseph  Lamb,  of  the 
N.  N.  Y.  Conference,  spending  the  closing  years 
of  her  useful  life  in  the  city  of  Utica. 

She  often  heard  me  preach,  and  judiciously  and 
wisely  criticised  ray  manner,  pronunciation,  gram- 
mar, etc.,  and  did  me  good  service  in  my  studies.  I 
have  never  ceased  to  be  grateful  to  her  for  her  kind- 
ness. May  benedictions  crown  her  declining  years, 
and  "  an  abundant  entrance  be  ministered  unto  her, 
into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 


Breasting  Dangers, 


51 


CHAPTER  y. 


BREASTING    DANGERS. 


iURIXG  the  revival  at  Merchant  Street,  a  lady 
'  died  in  the  western  part  of  the  circuit.     She 
was  a  devoted  Christian  and  a  worthy  member 
of  our  church.     I  had  visited  her  during  her  sick- 
ness ;  she  was  ripe  for  heaven,  had  arranged  every- 
thing for  her  funeral,  selected  the  text  and  request^ 
that  I  should  officiate.     The  message  reached  rae  the 
day  before  the  funeral,  which  was  appointed  for  9 
o'clock  the  next  morning  on  account  of  the  extreme 
heat.     The  distance  was  only  sixteen   or  eighteen 
miles  but  I  could  not  leave  until  after  the  afternoon 
meeting.     It  was  sundown  before  I  got  away ;  one 
part  of  my  route  was  through  a  piece  of  woods  seven 
miles  long.     A  violent  thunder-storm  arose  before  I 
reached  the  woods ;  the  night  was  verv  dark  and  the 
rain  poured  down  in  torrents.     I  could  not  see  my 
way  or  anything  around  me  only  as  the  momentary 
flash  of  the  lightning  gave  me  a  glance  of  my  sui-- 
roundings.     My  horse,  a  young  spirited  animal,  was 
frightened  by  the  terrific  peals  of  thunder  and  the 
glare  of  the  lightning,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
I  could  keep  the  saddle.     The  road  was  narrow 
through  the  woods  and  my  frantic  beast  could  not 


IMMil 


jjiiiiia 


ig^mi 


)^6^ 


ii 


52         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

keep  it.     I  was  in  constant  danger  of  being  dashed 
against  a  tree  or  swept  off  by  the  branches.     In 
endeavoring  to  manage  the  restive  beast  I  lost  my 
way  and  could  not  find  it   again.     Dismounting  I 
leaned  against  a  tree ;  the  horse  seemed  to  feel  secure 
when  he'  could  put  his  nose  on  my  shoulder,  and  I 
must  have  stood  in  that  position  for  an  hour,  when 
the  thunder-storm  passed.     I  sat  down  on  the  wet 
ground  with  a  very  sad  heart.     There  I  was,  at  mid- 
night, alone,  three  or  four  miles  from  a  human  habi- 
tation, no  living  creature  near  me  (so  tar  as  I  knew) 
but  my  faithful  horse.    What  a  lonehness  came  over 
me ;  I  thought  of  my  sainted  mother  and  wondered 
if  my  Heavenly  Father  would  not  in  pity  send  her 
as  a  guardian  angel  to  comfort  and  protect  her 
lonely  boy !     The  inquiry  came  to  me,  "  Are  you  not 
a  fool  to  become  a  wanderer  when  you  might  have 
home  and  friends  % "     KneeHng  at  the  root  of  a  big 
tree  I  wrestled  with  God  in  an  agony  of  prayer  and 
He  came  to  me;  came  with  comforting  assurance 
saying  to  my  heart :  •  "  Lo  I  am  with  you  always." 
Jacob's  God  was  my  God  and  the  dark  woods  were 
changed  from  "Zt^s"  to  "  Bethel^'  for  it  was  to  me 
"  The  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven.'^     The 
woods  rang  with  my  song.     I  would  rather  be  a 
Methodist  preacher  than  to  fill  a  monarch's  throne. 
I  solemnly  renewed  my  consecration  to  God  and  his 
work,  promised  to  devote  my  whole  being  to  his  ser- 
vice, ta  take  cheerfuUy  the  bitter  with  the  sweet  and 
to  do  my  best  to  bring  lost  men  to  God.     The  day 
began  to  dawn  and  mounting  to  the  saddle,  my 


Breasting  Bangers.  53 

clothes  thoroughly  wet,  not  a  dry  thing  about  me 
and  the  water  stiU  dripping  from  the  trees,  I  found 
the  road,  resumed  my  journey  with  a  happv  heart, 
and  reached  Bro.  Ziba  Smith's  about  5  o'clock  in  the 
mornmg.     Oh,  how  kind  that  precious  family  was 
to  me !     Sister  S.  wept  over  me  as  if  I  had  been  her 
child,  dried  my  clothes,  made  merest,  got  me  a  good 
breakfast  and  then  they  took  me  in  their  wagon  to 
the  funeral,  and  brought  me  back  after  the  service 
to  their  hospitable  home.     After  dinner  I  had  a  good 
nap,  then  started  back  to  my  evening  appointment. 
But  how  different  the  woods  were  I     The  sun  was 
shining,  birds  singing,  and  nature  rejoicing  in  its 
glory.     I  could  not  find  the  spot  where  I  had  spent 
the  night,  but  dismounting  as  near  to  it  as  I  could, 
thanked  ray  covenant-keeping  God  for  his  loving 
care  and  went  on  my  way  rejoicing. 

My  kind  colleague  got  his  evening  appointment 
supphed  that  he  might  accompany  me  to  Quaker 
Settlement,  as  he  had  been  there  once  himself  and 
knew  the  danger  and  difficulty  of  the  way.     We 
had  to  ford  the  St.  Regis  river  at  Crapsy's  IMiUs,  and 
the  pass  was  a  crooked  and  obscure  one.     When  he 
went  over  he  had  a  guide  to  pilot  him  through,  but 
when  we  reached  the  ford  the  men  had  aU  gone 
from  the  neighborhood  to  a  "  raising,"  and  not  one 
of  the  women  in  the  two  or  three  houses  could  speak 
a  word  of   English,   and  we  did   not  understand 
Dutch.     They,  however,  kindly  accompanied  us  to 
the  crossing  and,  by  gesture  and  gibberish,  tried  to 
point  out  the  zigzag  courae.     The  water  was  dark. 


54 


Eeininiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 


but  Bro.  B.,  having  once  been  over  thought  he  could 
go  through.     We  started  and  got  on  well  until  we 
reached   the  middle  of   the  stream,   then  turning 
down  the  river  about  twenty  rods,  he  did  not  know 
just  the  point  where  we  should  strike  directly  for 
the  shore,  and  going  a  little  too  far  our  horses  lost 
their  footing  and  began  to  swim.     Bro.  B.  kept  down 
the  stream  pushing  shoreward  and  gained  the  bank, 
while   I  struck  directly  for  the  shore.     My  horse 
being  young,   and   not  accustomed  to  the   water, 
wanted  to  turn  around,  and  I  had  to  slip  from  the 
saddle    and,    holding    by  the    crupper,   drove  my 
frightened  colt  to  the  bank.     I,  being  a  good  swim- 
mer, was  not  alarmed.     My  colleague  who  could  not 
swim  was  frightened,  but  "  God  preserved  both  man 
and  beast."     We  rode  on  thankfully  to  the  settle- 
ment ;  our  saddle  bags  were  filled  with  water,  and 
everything  in  and  about  us  was  wringing  wet.     Our 
good  Bro.  Chamberlain  (father  of  Mrs.  Otis  Gibson, 
of  the  CaUfomia  Chinese  Mission)  supplied  us  from 
his  own  wardrobe  as  far  as  he  could,  and  Sister  C. 
borrowing  what  was  lacking   from  the  neighbors, 
hung  our  wet  clothes  in  the  sun  to  dry  while  we 
went  to  meeting. 

It  was  my  lot  to  preach.  The  borrowed  clothes 
were  too  large  for  me  and  my  appearance  was  not 
that  of  a  fashionable  modern  preacher,  but  we  had 
the  shout  of  a  King  in  the  camp. 

As  one  of  our  appointments  did  not  promise  much 
fruit,  Bro.  Barney  gave  me  permission  to  drop  it 
and  take  up  another  on  my  round.    I  had  been 


Brcmting  Dangers.  55 

through  a  small  village  called  Sodom,  and  found  it 
destitute  of  the  means  of  grace.  There  was  an  old 
Baptist  church  in  the  pla^e,  but  it  was  seldom  occu- 
pied. The  Universalists  held  meetings  and  had  a 
minister,  Mr.  II.,  hving  in  the  village.  It  was  said 
to  be  a  rougli,  wicked  place;  but  my  heart  turned 
to  It  with  deep  anxiety  to  make  an  effort  to  save  the 
people.  A  friend  offered  to  go  to  the  place  and 
arrange  for  a  meeting  on  the  following  Sunday  eve- 
ning. A  young  local  preacher  consented  to  take 
my  regular  appointments  if  Providence  should  detain 
me  at  Sodom. 

On  reaching  the  place  I  found  the  old  church  well 
filled.      The  Universalist    minister  met  me  at  the 
door,  offering  to  unite   with   me   in   the   meeting. 
The    offer    was    respectfuUy    declined    because   he 
denied  the  supreme  divinity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Christ,  and  was   unsound   in  many   of  the  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  the  Bible.     He  was  offended, 
and  I  saw  plainly  that  I  would  have  trouble  with 
him.     I  went  up  into  the  high  pulpit  and  opened 
my  commission    from   the   words   of   the   prophet 
Ezekiel :     "  Say  unto  them,  as  I  live  saith  the  Lord 
God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked ; 
but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and   live.' 
Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  from  your  evil  ways,  for  why  will 
ye  die  % "      Some  were  deeply  affected  and  others 
made  angr^^     My  friend  the  minister  objected  to  ray 
views  of  eternal  death,  and  insisted  upon  refuting 
them  on  the  spot.     I  told  him  that  I  was  engaged 
in  an  important  work ;  men  were  dying  and  I  must 


5()         Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

"  pull  them  from  the  fire."  At  another  time  I  would 
be  most  happy  to  discuss  the  point  with  liim,  but  I 
could  not  be  diverted  from  the  work  just  then.  I 
went  down  in  front  of  the  pulpit  and  made  an 
appeal  to  the  people,  asking  as  many  as  beheved  the 
truth  as  I  had  endeavored  to  present  it,  and  wished 
me  to  pray  for  them,  to  come  forward  to  the  fi'ont 
seat.  Two  men  and  five  women  came.  I  prayed 
with  them,  counseled  them  and  then  prayed  again. 
"  The  bulls  of  Bashan  raged,  but  God  put  a  hook  in 
their  jaws."  Before  closing  I  said  to  the  congrega- 
tion :  ''  If  you  would  like  another  meeting  I  will 
hold  one  to-morrow  evening,  commencing  at  early 
candle  lighting."  A  majority  of  the  congregation 
arose  in  favor  of  it,  so  the  meeting  was  appointed. 

One  of  the  men  who  came  to  the  "mournei-s' 
bench"  invited  me  to  go  home  with  him.  I  gladly 
accepted  the  invitation.  He  stabled  Charlie  Black 
in  the  wood  house ;  a  neighbor  furnished  a  bmidle 
of  hay,  and  I  was  provided  for.  In  a  few  moments 
the  other  man  and  his  wife  came  in,  then  two  or 
three  opposers  came  in  for  discussion,  but  I  insisted 
on  praying  for  the  ''  mourners  "  first.  God  gloriously 
converted  my  host  and  hostess  and  the  other  woman. 
We  were  too  happy  for  discussion  that  night. 
Spent  the  next  day  visiting  from  house  to  house 
accompanied  by  my  happy  host,  who  told  his  neigh- 
bors what  God  had  done  for  his  soul.  Some  were 
affected  and  promised  to  lead  a  new  Ufe,  but  others 
scoffed.  Our  meeting  the  next  evening  was  a 
stormy  one.     The  opposition  was  very  strong  and 


Breasting  Bangers.  57 

open,  but  a  dozen  or  more  came  forward  and  some 
were  converted.      The  next  evening,  while  I  was 
preaching,  a  company  of  roughs  entered  the  house, 
came  down  the  broad  aisle  to  the  pulpit  and  the  ring- 
leader ascended  the  winding  stairs.     I  paused  and 
asked  him  what  I  could  do  for  him.     He  said  that 
he  came  to  collect  my  tavern  biU.     I  told  him  I  had 
never  been  in  the  village  tavern  and  had  no  idea 
what  he  referred  to,  but  he  persisted  in  his  demand. 
I  said,  "  I  always  pay  what  I  owe,  and  when  you 
explain  what  it  is  I  will  pay  it  cheerfullv,  if  it  is  a 
reasonable  bill."     He  said  that  I  hitched  my  horse 
under  the  tavern  shed,  Sunday  evening,  whUe  I  went 
to  meeting,  and  the  men  who  came  for  him  did  not 
pay  the  bill,  which  was  a  York  shilhng.     I  replied 
that  I  had  never  known  before  that  any  one  was 
expected  to  pay  for  hitching  a  horse  in  an  open  shed, 
kept  for  the  accommodation  of  the  pubhc;  but  if 
such  was  the  custom  in  that  place  I  would  cheer- 
fully comply  with   it.      While   I  was  getting  my 
purse  a  gentleman  arose  in  the  audience,  and  with 
the  voice  of  authority  commanded  the  man  to  come 
down  from  the  pulpit  and  leave  the  house,  or  he 
would  immediately  arrest  him.     No  man  ever  paid 
for  hitching  a  horse  in  a  tavern  shed,  and  it  was 
evidently  a  plan  to  disturb  a  religious  meeting,  and 
if   any  farther  disturbance  was   offered  he  would 
make  it  expensive   for  them.     The  man  left  the 
house  at  once.     I    thanked  my  defender,   who   I 
learned  after  the  meeting  was  a  magistrate,  and 
resumed  my  discourse  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 


i 


58         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 


It  is  surprising,  as  I  look  back,  to  see  how  little 
those  interruptions  moved  us  or  hindered  the  work 
of  God.  Indeed  they  raised  up  friends  for  us  and 
gave  the  cause  a  fresh  impetus. 

To  counteract  the  influence  of  the  meeting,  the 
tavern  keeper  and   his   friends  got   up   a  country 
dance,  and  sent  me  a  ball  ticket.     I  wrote  a  note  to 
the  committee  that   I  would   attend   between   the 
hours  of  11  and  12  o'clock,  after  the  meeting  had 
closed,  provided  they  would  give  me  that  hour  for 
prayer  and    exhortation  without  interruption,    but 
they  withdrew  the  invitation.     Instead  of  the  ball 
breaking  up  the  meeting,  the  meeting  broke  up  the 
ball.     One  of  the  young  ladies  who  had  attended 
the  meetings  was  persuaded  to  go  to  the  dance ;  but 
her  conscience  troubled  her  so  much  that  she  left 
the  ball  room  unobserved,  came  to  the  church  while 
we  were  praying  for  the  '*  mourners,"  knelt  as  one 
among  them,  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.     Her  part- 
ner, and  her  brother,  came  in  hot  pursuit,  and  seeing 
her  at  the  ''  mourners'  bench,"  her  brother  seized  her 
by  the  arms  and  rushed  for  the  door.     Hearing  a 
woman  shriek,  I  sprang  from  my  knees,  laid  hold  of ' 
the  angry  man,  who  in  his  rage  dropped  his  sister 
and  raised  his  clenched  fist  to  deal  me  a  blow.     I 
good  naturedly  said :     "  My  friend,  you  can't  strike 
me ;  God  holds  that  strong  right  arm  of  yours,  and 
though  I  be  like  a  grasshopper  in  your  hands.  He'll 
take  care  of   me."     The  muscles  relaxed  and  the 
arm  fell  to  its  proper  place,  and  he  and  his  friend 
returned  to  the  ball  room.     I  led  the  frightened, 


Breasting  Dangers.  59 

weeping  girl  back  to  her  place,  and  in  less  than 
thirty  mniutes  she  was  rapturous  in  the  jov  of  par- 
don.    The    news  spread    through   the  ball  room; 
several  of  her  friends  came  over  to  the  meeting,  and 
as  they  came  into  the  house  she  rushed  to  meet  them 
m  the  aisle  and  throwing  her  arms  around  the  necks 
of  two  young  ladies,  began  to  tell  them  what  God 
had  done  for  her,  and  how  happv  she   was,   and 
exhorted  them  to  seek  the  Saviour.     This  broke 
them  down  and  we  had  a  prayer-meeting  for  them 
m  the  aisle  before  we  could  get  them  to  the  ^'  mourn- 
ers' bench."     They  couldn't  keep  the  young  people 
at  the  ball,  they  would  run  to  the  meeting,  and  so 
they  closed  the  dance  before  midnight,  though  other- 
wise it  would  have  continued  until  the  dawn  of  da}^ 
The  work  went  on  with  power ;  a  large  class  was 
formed  and  the  place  put  upon  the  regular  plan  of 
appointments.     The  preachers  of   that  day  might 
well  say  with  St.  Paul,  '^  I  have  fought  with  beasts 
at  Ephesus,"  though  our  beasts  were  turbulent  men. 
In  a  former  chapter  I  referred  to  the  general  drink- 
mg  habits  of  the  people  in  the  days  of  mv  child- 
hood.    This  was  before  Methodism  was  introduced 
into  our  town.     Thev  were  from  the  beginning  a 
reformatory  church,  denouncing  sin  in  every  form 
and  raising  moral  conduct  to  the  Bible  standard. 
One  of  their  rules  was  to  "reprove  sin  wherever 
they  saw  it."     This  was  fearlessly  done  both  from 
the  pulpit  and  in  social  life.    Neither  drinking,  swear- 
ing. Sabbath-breaking,  or  any  other  immorality  was 
allowed  in  their  presence  without  a  bold,  kind,  Christ- 


60        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

ian  rebuke.  They  conscientiously  observed  the  com- 
mand, '^  Thou  shalt  in  any  wise  rebuke  thy  neighbor, 
and  not  sulfer  sin  upon  him."  They  were  often  a 
terror  to  the  wicked,  and  greatly  persecuted  for  their 
fidelity  in  this  respect.  The  Discipline  was  plain 
and  positive  against  "dram  drinking"  and  intem- 
perance in  all  its  forms.  The  Methodist  Church  was 
the  only  temperance  society  in  existence  for  years, 
and  one  of  the  first  objections  I  remember  to  have 
heard  brought  against  them  was  that  '^  they  would 
not  allow  even  a  social  glass  among  friends,"  and 
when  an  effort  was  made  to  organize  a  temperance 
society  in  our  village  Deacon  M.  denounced  it  as 
"Methodist  bigotry,"  "righteous  over  much,"  etc. 
One  of  the  first  cases  of  discipline  which  occurred 
on  our  circuit  under  the  wise  administration  of  Bro. 
Barney  was  with  a  member  for  "tippling,"  and 
faithful  and  persevering  effort  was  successful;  for 
the  man  was  enlightened,  corrected  and  saved. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  the  Methodist 
Church  has  been  foremost  from  the  beginning  in 
the  fearless  uncompromising  work  of  opposition  to 
the  traffic  and  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  direct- 
ing public  opinion  in  healthy,  temperance  principles. 
Both  their  discipline  and  practice  have  been  in  keep- 
ing with  the  teachings  of  the  Bible ;  and  the  spirit 
of  the  fathers  on  the  subject  has  permeated  the 
church. 

One  of  the  largest  and  most  intelligent  societies 
on  the  circuit  was  at  Mud  Street,  in  the  town  of 
Parishville.     It  was  composed  of  strong,  influential 


Breasting  Dangers.  ^\ 

men  and  women  who  were  fearless  and  outspoken 
agamst  anything  which  they  considered  wrong. 

The  Anti-Masonic  excitement  had  been  agitating- 
the  country  for  a  few  years,  growing  out  of  the 
aUeged  murder  of  Morgan  by  the  Masons  and  the 
corrupt  tendencies  of  the  institution.  The  church 
suffered  more  or  less  agitation,  especially  the  Baptists 
many  of  whose  churches  were  rent  and  crippled 
by  it.  ^^ 

My  colleague  belonged  to  the  Masons,  and  when 
he  came  to  this  appointment  a  committee  waited 
upon  him  to  inquire  if  he  was  a  Free  Mason     Bro 
B.  frankly  informed  them  that  he  had  joined  them 
before  entermg  the  ministry ;  but  that  he  had  not 
been  m  a  lodge  for  nine  years  and  never  intended  to 
enter  one  again ;  and  if  he  could  raise  the  institution 
of  Masonry  as  high  as  it  ever  was  by  paying  a  York 
sixpence  he  would  not  do  it.     But  they  demanded 
that  he  should  formally  withdraw  and^  pubhcly  ex- 
pose the  secrets  of  the  institution.     This  he  declined 
to  do  as  unnecessary,  saying  that  he  was  willing  to 
repeat  publicly  what  he  had  said  to  them ;  but  could 
not  conscientiously  violate  his  oath  in  attempting  to 
expose  what  was  understood  ah'eady  by  the  public 
and  assured  them  that  he  would  have  no  further 
connection  with  Masonry.    This  did  not  satisfy  them 
and  they  positively  refused  to  receive  him  as  thei^ 
preacher,   but  proposed  as  a  compromise  that  he 
devote  his  labors  to  other  parts  of  the  circuit,  and 
let  the  junior  preacher  supply  them.     This  Bro  B 
declined  to  do ;  and  so  this  unhappy  affair  ended  in 


« 


»l 


62         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  withdrawal  of  this  whole  society  from  the  church, 
with  the  exception  of  two  leading  families,  who 
claimed  that  the  pastor  had  done  all  that  they  had  a 
right  to  ask,  and  they  were  perfectly  satisfied. 

The  secession  took  off  about  one-fourth  of  our 
support,  but  was  overruled  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
cause  elsewhere,  giving  us  opportunity  to  visit  the 
settlements  beyond,  on  the  borders  of  what  was 
then  called  the  "South  Woods."  Bro.  B.'s  health 
was  very  poor  during  the  year,  and  he  was  not  able 
to  perform  any  extra  labors,  but  made  his  rounds  on 
the  circuit,  planning  and  directing  the  work.  He 
kept  me  much  of  the  time  in  revival  meetings, 
sending  the  local  preachers  to  supply  my  appoint- 
ments while  thus  engaged.  We  had  a  good  year 
religiously ;  showers  of  blessings ;  a  large  ingather- 
ing of  souls ;  hard  work,  small  pay,  divine  comfort 
and  growth  in  grace. 

The  best  appointment  on  the  circuit  was  West 
Stockholm.  Our  membership  there  was  composed 
of  substantial,  intelligent  and  devoted  people,  includ- 
ing most  of  the  leading  families  in  the  community. 
It  was  one  of  the  best  working  churches  of  the  day 
and  deeply  spiritual. 

I  had  never  before  found  a  large  society  so  united, 
gifted,  and  earnest  in  the  work.  They  had  a  revival 
spirit  all  the  year.  There  were  men  among  them 
who  were  gifted  and  influential — Loren  Ashley,  a 
justice  of  the  peace  ;  Martin  Dowd,  a  talented  local 
preacher  and  Ziba  Smith,  a  farmer.  These  men 
were  bound  together  by  ties  as  strong  and  tender  as 


Breasting  Dangers.  ^3 

th<»e  th.t  „.itoi  David  and  his  b.lovrf  Jo„a,h.„ 

give  T\  a^      They  were  very  useful  in  tl.eir  own  and 
surrounding  towns. 

hM^i  ""i  *^'  J^"'"''*""'^  '°"'^*'"^  of  the  year  was 
held  m  this  place.    It  was  connected  w4  I  Zr 

W  Z  :f  ti:'  '^'^  "  '''  Presbyterianl^elLg 
iiouse  two  or  three  miles  east  of  our  ree-ular  nrp^r^if 

-g  place  which  was  too  smaU  for  the  SLLf    '" 

sid^;  efd?  x^raSfs  !;^^  ^^•-  '•  ^^-^'  p- 

ai-p  <■  ,  '''^' ^®^- Azariah  Hall,  stationed  preacher 
at  Potsdam,  the  two  circuit  preachers  and  seCl  rf 
our  local  brethren.    This  wa.  an  unusual  nuS  of 
ministers  to  bring  together  at  that  time  e^^t  at 
camp-meeting,  as  every  man  was  busy  inl^Cwn 
work.    Brother  Chase  had  an  imposing  physiW 
ta     weU  proportioned,  a  pleasant  countirnrrh 
fuU  voice  and  a  weU-disciplined  mind  •  was  an  IT 
preacher  and  powerful  in  exhortation  '   He  :^erded 
the  sword  of  the  spirit  ^vith  wonderful  eC   1 
heard  him  preach  once  at  a  quarterly  meeting  helJ 

rir  foTth  ^  ''r^™^-  built  aTotfnS 
buckls  fort  J^^^^  ''"'Pf  P'""'^^  ^"PP^'^^d  by  sap 
Duckets  formed  the  seats ;  other  seats  were  prepared 
on  the  hay  mow;  the  long  stable  was  also Trlhed 
^th  seats  and  the  scaffold  was  arranged  fruse 
The  lad.es  by  courtesy  were  seated  on  the  qZv  old 

ladder  to  the  mow  and  the  boys  and  young  men 


64        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

filled  the  scaffold.  A  large  congregation  thus  seated 
in  a  big  barn  makes  an  imposing  appearance  and  is 
very  comfortable. 

The  elder  preached  that  day  on  "  the  prayer  of 
Stephen,"  and,  as  the  old  preachers  used  to  say,  had 
a  "free  time."  In  his  peroration,  divine  unction 
rested  upon  him,  his  countenance  shone  with  an  un- 
earthly light,  and  in  describing  the  death  scene  of 
Stephen,  he  settled  upon  his  knees,  his  eyes  fixed 
upwards  as  if  he  saw  the  glory  that  lighted  the  first 
martyr  to  the  throne.  His  utterances  were  wonder- 
ful and  his  appearance  thrilling;  people  fell  like 
dead  men  in  different  parts  of  the  assembly  ;  sinners 
wept  and  trembled.  Saints  shouted  for  joy  and  it 
was  some  time  before  we  could  calm  down  enough 
to  attend  to  the  sacrament.  During  that  service 
several  sank  under  the  divine  glory,  like  Daniel  when 
he  saw  the  vision  of  God  and  said  :  "  There  remained 
no  strength  in  me." 

Brother  Hall  was  one  of  the  most  eloquent  men 
of  that  day.  He  walked  with  a  crutch  having  lost 
a  limb.  He  was  a  natural  orator  and  had  a  ringing 
voice  of  great  compass  and  melody.  His  ability  in 
word-painting  was  remarkable,  especially  in  describ- 
ing the  judgment  day  and  the  horrors  of  the  damned. 
I  heard  him  once  at  a  camp-meeting  which  was  held 
a  few  miles  south  of  Malone,  preach  on  the  text : 
"  And  in  hell  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  being  in  torment, 
and  seeth  Abraham  afar  off  and  Lazarus  in  his 
bosom;  and  he  cried  and  said,  Father  Abraham, 
have  mercy  on  me  and  send  Lazarus  that  he  may 


Breasting  Dangers, 


65 


dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water  and  cool  my 
tongue;  for  I  am  tormented  in  this  flame."  Soon 
after  commencing  his  sermon  a  terrific  thunder- 
storm began  to  gather.  The  deep  black  clouds  rose 
in  the  vaulted  sky,  spreading  along  the  heavens 
in  awful  majesty.  The  vivid  lightning  darted  its 
chains  of  fire  over  the  darkening  sky,  and  the 
booming  thunder  rolled  along  the  heavens  as  the 
voice  of  an  angry  God.  The  winds  roared  above 
us ;  the  trees  swayed  friglitfully  to  and  fro  and  the 
interlaced  branches  above  rushed  in  angry  strife,  as 
if  lashed  by  the  spirit  of  the  storm.  It  was  a  scene 
of  grandeur  that  is  indescribable.  The  speaker  rose 
with  the  storm ;  he  seemed  inspired  for  the  occasion. 
He  wrought  into  liis  sermon  every  roar  of  the  tem- 
pest, every  clap  of  the  thunder,  every  flash  of  tlio 
forked  lightning,  the  warring  and  wild  uproar  of 
the  elements,  until  the  large  audience  was  wrought 
up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement.  Just  as  the 
storm  broke  in  a  flood  of  rain,  and  with  a  crash  of 
thunder,  upon  the  encampment,  the  preacher  spread 
his  hands  and  shouted  with  a  loud,  ringing  voice: 
"To  your  tents,  O  Israeli  and  sinners  fly  to  the 
Saviour ! "  Hundreds  fell  to  the  ground,  and  such  a 
cry  went  up  to  heaven  for  mercy  as  I  never  expect 
to  hear  again  until  that  day  when  "  God  shall  rain 
upon  the  wicked,  snares,  fire  and  brimstone,  and  an 
horrible  tempest."  The  preachers  fell  upon  their 
knees  in  the  stand,  and  for  a  half  hour  or  more, 
whilst  the  storm  was  raging,  prayed  mightily  that 
God  would  save  the  people  to  whom  he  had  spoken 


66 


Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


so  emphatically  that  day;  and  when  some  of  us 
went  down  among-st  the  drenched  people,  we  could 
not  raise  trembling  men  nor  proud  women  who  lay 
on  their  faces,  in  drenched  finery,  crying  for  mercy, 
and  many  of  them  were  saved. 

I  had  taken  an  only  brother  and  a  beloved  sister 
to  that  camp  meeting,  praying  for  their  conversion, 
and  in  that  terrible  storm  God  converted  them  both 
and  they  were  useful  in  the  church.  That  sister  is 
still  hvi'ng  to  thank  God  for  the  '^ still  small  voice" 
that  spoke  above  the  roar  of  that  frightful  storm 
fifty-two  years  ago,  saying,  "  Thy  sins  are  forgiven 

thee." 

Brother  Hall  preached  three  eloquent  and  power- 
ful sermons  during  the  first  three  days  of  the  meet- 
ing, returning  Saturday  to  supply  his  own  pulpit  on 
the'  Sabbath.     Elder  Chase  preached  Saturday  and 
Sunday  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit.     It  was  a 
time  of  great  refreshing  among  Christians  and  deep 
feeling  among  the  unconverted.     The  love  feast  was 
a  Pentecostal  scene ;   the  large  church  seemed  fiUed 
with  the  divine  glory.     The  presence  of  other  denom- 
inations, who  were  not  in  sympathy  with  our  ardor, 
did  not  check  their  zeal.     They  were  "  bold  to  take 
up,  firm  to  sustain,  the  consecrated  cross."     These 
valiant  men   and  women  were    ready  w4th  a  full 
response,  and  when  they  felt  a  shock  from  God's 
battery  they  responded  with  a  hallelujah  shout  that 
rang  through  the  assembly  like  the  trumpets  of  old 
in  the  camp  of  Israel.     At  the  sacramental  service, 
divine  power  came  upon  the  people  and  glory  shone 


Breasting  Dangers, 


67 


around.  The  elder  and  other  preachers  were  obliged 
to  leave  for  their  evening  appointments,  and  I  was 
left  to  gather  in  the  harvest.  The  seed  that  was 
sown  during  the  meeting  fell  on  good  ground  and 
that  night  we  had  many  at  the  "  mourners'  bench," 
for  the  brethren  saw  by  faith  the  coming  "  break- 
down "  among  the  unconverted  and  had  brought  in 
a  number  of  planks  and  arranged  them  in  the  wide 
space  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  They  were  filled  that 
night  and  God  gave  us  a  fresh  proof  of  the  power 
of  united  prayer. 

While  the  brethren  above  mentioned  were  engaged 
in  prayer,  others  uniting  v,^ith  them,  a  wave  of  divine 
power  Trent  over  that  assembly  and  in  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye  twenty  precious  souls  were  converted.  I 
have  seen  greater  revivals  since,  and  witnessed  dis- 
plays of  God's  mercy  and  power  in  saving  sinners, 
but  have  never  known  a  more  marked  display  of 
saving  grace  in  any  meeting  than  this.  Their  testi- 
mony was  clear  as  a  sunbeam,  and  when  at  the  close 
of  the  meeting  the  brethren  and  sisters  came  for- 
ward to  greet  the  converted,  several  of  our  Presby- 
terian brethren  came  to  rejoice  over  friends  and 
neighbors  who  w^ere  saved  by  grace.  One  of  the 
deacons  praised  God  aloud  that  the  Methodists  had 
held  their  quarterly  meeting  in  their  house.  This 
glorious  meeting  brought  these  two  Christian  denom- 
inations nearer  together. 


68        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


69 


i 


CHAPTEE  YI. 


THE   FLYING   ARTILLERY. 


HE  camp-meeting  at  Malone,  in  1831,  referred 
to  in  a  former  chapter,  was  one  of  wondrous 
power.  The  church  was  baptized  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  sinners  were  pricked  in  their  hearts  and 
cried  mightly,  "  What  mast  I  do  to  be  saved  ? "  One 
evening  at  the  close  of  a  powerful  sermon,  a  stranger 
sprang  into  the  stand,  and  began  to  address  the  peo- 
ple. No  one  in  the  stand  recognized  him.  His 
appeals  were  hke  barbed  arrows ;  they  pierced  the 
hearts  of  the  Kings  enemies.  From  the  moment 
the  w-ords  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the  people,  a  solemn 
awe  rested  upon  them,  and  for  at  least  ten  minutes 
they  hung  spell  bound  on  his  lips.  His  were 
"thoughts  that  breathed,  and  words  that  burned." 

The  attention  of  the  congregation  never  wavered. 
Saint  and  sinner  hstened  to  the  burning  appeals  with 
a  consciousness  that  God  himself  was  speaking 
through  Ups  of  clay.  The  feeling  of  the  large  audi- 
ence became  intense,  and  at  the  close  of  the  exhortar 
tion,  broke  into  a  loud  cry  for  mercy.  When  the 
invitation  was  given,  there  was  a  general  rush,  the 
large  "prayer  ring"  was  filled,  and  for  at  least  two 
hours  prayer  ardent  went  up  to  God.    The  sacra- 


mental host  pressed  their  suit  at  the  mercy  seat  with 
a  grasp  of  faith  that  brought  heaven  down  to  earth ; 
and  rising  above  the  voice  of  pleading  saints  rose 
the  cry  of  trembling,  weeping  penitents,  "  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  Ministers  went  amone: 
these  awakened  ones,  directing  them  to  the  Lamb 
of  God,  and  fixing  their  faith  upon  the  cleansing 
blood ;  and  God  answered  united  prayer  with  show- 
ers of  blessings,  turning  their  mourning  into  rejoic- 
ing, and  their  agonizing  cries  into  songs  of  praise. 

When  an  opportunity  was  given  to  those  who  had 
been  blest,  to  tell  what  God  had  done  for  them,  one 
after  another  arose  to  express  the  rapturous  joy  of 
pardon,  and  adoption  into  the  family  of  God,  and  it 
was  found  that  over  twenty  had  been  converted. 
Oh !  it  was  an  auspicious  season.  Men  who  came  to 
mock  had  learned  to  pray ;  "  Old  things  had  passed 
away  and  all  things  had  become  new ; "  what  mar- 
velous power  in  subduing  and  renovating  grace. 
The  meeting  held  to  a  late  hour  and  it  was  some 
time  after  the  "  horn  blew,"  as  a  signal  to  close  the 
meeting,  before  we  could  persuade  these  happy  con- 
verts and  their  sympathizing  friends  to  retire  to  their 
tents;  and  long  after  they  had  retired  "Glory  to 
God,"  would  respond  to  "  Glory"  all  over  the  encamp- 
ment, as  the  pent  up  joy  burst  forth  in  rapturous 
praise. 

When  the  leaders  of  the  meeting  could  turn  their 
thoughts  from  this  thrilling  scene,  they  began  to 
inquire  after  the  man  whose  word  had  stirred  the 
multitude  hke  the  waves  of  the  sea.    But  no  one 


70        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

knew  him ;  he  could  not  be  found,  and  enquiring  at 
the  tents  gave  no  light  on  the  subject. 

The  next  morning  the  inquiry  was  on  every  tongue, 
"Who  was  it  that  gave  such  an  exhortation  last 
evening?"  but  no  one  could  tell,  and  a  canvass  of  the 
grounds  brought  no  information.  It  began  to  look 
as  if  God  had  sent  a  special  messenger  to  warn 
sinners  just  as  he  sent  the  "man  of  God"  out  of 
Judah  to  prophesy  against  the  altar  of  Bethel — who 
came  suddenly  and  returned  without  communication 
with  the  people.  Before  the  day  passed  however,  it 
was  found  that  it  was  a  brother  Westcott,  an  exhorter 
who  lived  up  in  the  woods  above  Malone,  who  with 
his  family  was  encamped  in  a  retired  part  of  the  grove. 
While  sitting  in  the  congregation  feeling  the  worth 
of  souls,  he  was  moved  to  mount  the  stand  and  warn 
them  of  their  danger.  He  was  a  very  timid,  retiring 
man,  and  nothing  but  the  Holy  Spirit  could  have 
moved  him  to  take  the  step.  Having  obeyed  the 
voice  within,  and  delivered  his  burdened  soul,  he 
crept  away  into  his  tent  and  remained  concealed  till 
he  thought  the  circumstance  was  forgotten  in  the 
growing  interest  of  the  meeting.  God  often  in 
those  early  days  moved  obscure  men  to  warn  the 
people,  and  urge  them  to  turn  to  Him.  This  man 
became  afterwards  a  laborious  and  useful  local 
preacher. 

I  never  met  him  in  after  years  without  thinking 
of  the  burning  words  he  uttered  on  the  camp  ground. 

Another    incident   of    that    camp    meeting  was 
marked  and  striking,  showing  that  "  with  a  worm 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


71 


God  can  thrash  mountains."  Penitents  had  beqn 
invited  to  the  "prayer  ring."  Several  came,  and 
after  a  season  of  prayer,  just  at  the  close  of  the 
singing,  a  mere  boy,  perhaps  eight  or  nine  years  of 
age,  standing  on  the  steps  leading  into  the  stand, 
stepped  forward,  and  with  tears  streaming  down  his 
cheeks,  began  with  a  voice  trembling  with  emotion 
to  exhort  sinners  to  seek  their  Saviour.  His  appeals 
moved  the  great  congregation  deeply.  He  re})re- 
sented  them  "  as  hair  hung  and  breeze  shaken  over 
hell ;"  and  were  it  not  for  God's  tender  mercy  and 
patience,  they  "  would  fall  into  perdition  as  this  hand- 
kerchief falls  from  my  hand" — suiting  tlie  action 
to  the  word,  and  letting  it  fall  from  his  extended 
hand. 

The  effect  was  electrical ;  a  wail  went  up  from  the 
conscience  stricken  audience,  and  many  ruslied  to 
the  "  mourners'  bench,"  and  were  saved.  How  true 
it  is  that  "  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 
Thou  hast  perfected  praise." 

At  this  meeting  two  local  preachers  were  active 
and  useful  in  the  work.  One  miofht  be  thirtv  vears 
of  age,  and  the  other  thirty-six  or  seven.  The 
younger  of  the  two  was  Lyndon  King,  and  the 
other  a  Bro.  Gould,  who  was  called  the  "  sleeping 
preacher."  They  had  both  been  recently  licensed 
to  preach,  and  were  fresh  and  earnest  in  the  work. 

Their  exliortations  and  appeals  from  the  stand 
arrested  the  attention  of  the  wicked,  and  wonder- 
fully moved  them  to  abandon  sin  and  seek  after 
God.     They  were  eminently  useful  in  the  "prayer 


Y2         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

ring,"  and  in  the  tent  meetings.  Their  voices  were 
ringing  almost  constantly  through  the  encampment 
as  they  plead  with  sinners  to  forsake  their  evil 
ways,  or  with  God  to  save  repenting  men,  and  pluck 
them  as  brands  from  the  burning.  Brother  King 
soon  after  joined  the  Conference,  and  for  several 
years  was  an  earnest  and  useful  laborer  in  the  vine- 
yard. 

Brother  Gould  remained  in  the  local  ranks,  was  in 
labors  abundant,  preached  three  times  every  Sab- 
batn,  worked  hard  in  chopping  and  clearing  land, 
and  nearly  every  night  in  the  week  held  a  meeting 
and  lived  in  a  blaze  of  revival.  He  was  not  a  man 
of  learning  or  culture,  not  even  read  up  in  theology. 
His  preaching  was  not  systematic  or  exegetical.  He 
was  one  of  the  Benjamin  Abbott  type,  a  regular 
Boanerges,  full  of  thunder  and  lightning.  He  him- 
self was  a  brand  plucked  from  the  burning ;  he  had 
been  powerfully  converted,  was  warm  in  his  first 
love,  had  a  passion  for  souls,  would  storm  hell  to 
rescue  one,  and  counted  not  his  life. dear  unto  himself 
if  he  could  win  a  jewel  for  the  Saviour's  crown.  He 
had  been  a  bold  blasphemer,  a  heaven  daring  sinner. 

When  the  Methodists  came  into  this  section  of  the 
country  calling  sinners  to  repentance,  he  mocked 
and  opposed  them.  But  he  was  too  puny  to  cope 
with  Omnipotence.  God's  word  pierced  his  heart, 
and  in  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  he  cried  out  with 
David  "  The  sorrows  of  death  encompassed  me,  and 
the  pains  of  hell  gat  hold  upon  me  " — but  his  stub- 
born heart  refused  to  vield  and  he  remained  defiant 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


73 


and  rebellious.     His  wife  was  awakened  and  became 
an  earnest  seeker.     This  exasperated  him  the  more  ; 
he  forbade  her  attending  the  preaching  and  he  fought 
stoutly  against  God.     In  this  wretched  state  of  mind 
one  night  he  retired  to  bed,  but  not  to  rest;   he 
tossed  and  turned  until  after  midnight  ujxjn  an  un- 
easy pillow,  until,  exhausted  nature  overpowered,  he 
sunk  into  a  deep  slumber.     In  his  perturbed  state  of 
mind  he  dreamed  that  the  judgment  trumpet  sound- 
ed.    It  was  a  terrible  blast,  unlike  anything  he  had 
ever  heard.     It  seemed  to  paralyze  him  ;  lifting  his 
eyes  he  beheld  the  heavens  all  on  fire,  and  through 
the  parting  clouds  he  saw  the  great  white  throne 
descending ;  on  it  sat  Jehovah  Jesus,  once  the  Saviour, 
but  now  the  Judge  of  the  quick  and  dead.     He 
recognized  him  at  a  glance ;  no  one  could  mistake 
him,  for  unhke  all  others,  he  was  clothed  with  majes- 
ty and  imperial  grandeur.     He  was  surrounded  by 
mighty  angels,  and  they  were  enveloped  in  flames  of 
fire.  He  felt  the  earth  trembling  beneath  his  feet,  and 
saw  the  graves  opening  and  the  dead  rising,  and  all 
approaching  the  descending  throne.    In  his  fright  he 
thought  he  would  hide  among  the  rocks  that  were 
near  him— but  on  turning  he  saw  that  the  earth  was 
on  fire,  and  the  rocks  were  melting  to  liquid  flames. 
He  could  not  flee,  for  a  powerful  attraction  drew  him 
with  the  rising  dead,  and  affrighted  living,  towards 
the  fiery  throne.     He  heard  the  shout  of  the  arch- 
angel saying  "  Come  to  Judgment,"  "  and  the  dead, 
small  and  great,"  from  hoary  Adam  down  to  his 
youngest  child  gathered  around  the  great  white 


74        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

throne.  The  books  were  opened.  There  was  the 
book  of  Providence ;  in  it  was  written  where  he  Avas 
born,  where  he  had  lived,  the  advantages  he  had 
enjoyed,  the  providences  both  merciful  and  afflict- 
ing that  had  attended  him.  The  book  of  Scripture, 
with  all  its  warnings,  and  invitations  which  he  had 
slighted.  The  book  of  God's  rememberance,  in 
which  was  written  all  his  thoughts,  words  and  deeds. 
The  book  of  Life  in  which  was  recorded  the  names 
of  the  good,  yet  his  name  was  not  there.  But  he 
needed  no  book  to  remind  him  of  his  sins,  they 
rolled  before  him  as  if  they  were  written  on  a  parch- 
ment scroll.  The  piercing  eye  of  the  Judge  scanned 
every  motive  and  every  secret  and  public  thing,  and 
found  him  guilty.  He  was  sentenced  to  "depart 
into  everlasting  fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels."  As  fiends  seized  him  to  drag  him  to  his 
doom  he  shrieked,  "  I  am  damned  for  my  folly  and 
lost  for  my  sins." 

The  shriek  awoke  him,  and  springing  from  his 
bed,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy. 
It  was  some  time  before  he  could  be  convinced  that 
it  was  not  a  reality.  It  seemed  so  real  that  it  could 
not  be  a  dream,  but  when  he  could  comprehend  it, 
he  thanked  God  that  he  was  out  of  hell,  and  begged 
his  wife  to  forgive  his  persecutions  and  pray  for  him. 
He  went  to  the  homes  of  his  godly  neighbors  whom 
he  had  ridiculed  and  despised  and  implored  their  pray- 
ers in  his  behalf.  God  in  his  mercy  for  Christ's  sake 
pardoned  his  many  sins,  and  "  filled  him  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


75 


He  went  to  his  old  companions  in  sin,  told  them  of 
the  wonderful  change  that  God  had  wrought  in  him, 
warned  them  of  their  danger  and  entreated  them  to 
go  with  him  to  Heaven.  Several  of  them  complied 
with  the  invitation,  sought  and  found  the  Saviour, 
united  with  God's  people  and  the  infant  church  was 
strengthened. 

Mr.  Gould  was  all  alive  for  souls.  He  could  not 
rest  day  or  night  without  warning  them  to  fly  the 
wrath  to  come.  He  held  prayer-meetings  through 
the  neighborhood,  and  was  the  instrument  of  much 
good.  The  brethren  began  to  see  that  God  had  a 
work  for  him  to  do  in  the  ministry ;  but  being  an 
unlearned  man  the  thought  of  preaching  frightened 
him  and  he  shrank  away  from  it  with  a  timid 
spirit. 

He  ceased  holding  meetings  and  fell  into  despond- 
ency—every effort  to  arouse  him  only  discouraged 
him  the  more.     He  thought  he  could  not  preach  and 
there  must  be  some  mistake  about  it.     He  lost  his 
appetite,  his  flesh  was  wasting  and  his  friends  began 
to  fear  that  the  strong  man  was  going  into  a  decline. 
One  night  in  a  sound  sleep  he  gave  out  a  hymn  and 
sung  it,  offered  an  earnest  prayer,  gave  out  another 
hymn,   waited  restlessly   for  it  to   be  sung,   then 
announced  a  text  and  preached  a  powerful  sermon, 
called  seekers  to  the  "-  mourner's  bench"  and  prayed 
for  them  just  as  earnestly  as  if  it  were  a  reality. 
Gave  out  another  meeting  one  week  from  that  time. 
In  the  morning  he  seemed  to  have  no  consciousness 
of  what  had  occurred  in  the  night.    His  wife  fearing 


76        JReminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

a  disordered  brain  said  but  little  about  the  matter, 
but  as  the  time  for  his  meeting  drew  near,  became 
greatly  exercised  about  it. 

She  privately  invited  the  class-leader  and  his  wife 
and  one  or  two  other  devoted  friends  to  slip  in  after 
Mr.  Ct.  had  retired.  They  came  in  about  ten  o'clock 
and  found  him  in  a  sound,  restful  sleep.  About  an 
hour  later  brother  Gould  gave  out  a  hymn  and  sung, 
they  joining  in  the  singing.  He  then  prayed,  gave 
out  a  hymn  and  waited  until  it  was  sung,  not  joining 
in  the  singing  himself,  but  seeming  to  be  engaged  in 
mental  prayer ;  then  announced  his  text  [different 
from  the  one  preached  on  before]  and  preached  with 
all  his  might;  invited  seekers  forward,  prayed, 
exhorted,  and  sung,  like  a  man  working  among  pen- 
itents in  a  revival.  He  seemed  to  think  that  the 
"  Eeformation "  was  increasing  and  that  he  must 
come  oftener,  so  he  left  another  appointment  three 
days  from  that  time.  When  the  time  arrived  he 
had  a  large  congregation.  He  preached  with  great 
freedom  and  unction,  and  it  was  said  that  some  were 
awakened  under  the  sermon. 

He  held  several  meetings  and  never  had  any 
recollection  of  it  when  he  awoke  in  the  morning. 
The  preachers  gave  him  what  was  common  then 
with  beginners,  a  verbal  license,  or  permit  to  hold 
meetings. 

He  was  a  timid  man,  very  distrustful  of  his  own 
abilities,  and  greatly  embarrassed  in  addressing  a 
congregation.  But  with  a  consciousness  that  "  woe  is 
me  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel,"  and  the  urgent  solic- 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


77 


itations  of  his  brethren,  he  was  induced  to  make  the 
attempt,  and  thus  became  a  very  useful  local  preacher. 
It  was  said  of  him  that  if  he  neglected  to  preach  for 
a  few  weeks  these  somnambuhstic  exercises  would 
return,  but  when  walking  in  the  way  of  duty  he  was 
free  from  them. 

He  was  ordained  as  a  local  preacher,  and  called 
into  the  adjoining  towns  and  circuits  to  baptize 
converts  and  children,  and  solemnize  matrimony,  as 
several  of  the  traveling  preachers  of  that  day  had 
not  yet  graduated  to  orders. 

He  wa«  a  poor  man,  laboring  with  his  own  hands 
to  support  his  family,  and  would  often  walk  ten, 
twenty  and  thirty  miles  to  preach  and  baptize  without 
fee  or  reward.  The  church  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
to  these  self-sacrificmg  men  for  their  zeal  and  efficient 
services  in  building  up  the  waste  places  of  Zion,  and 
making  the  "  wilderness  to  rejoice,  and  the  desert  to 
blossom  like  the  rose." 

His  diffidence  was  very  embarrassing  to  himself, 
rendering  him  often  shy  and  awkward.  But  arouse 
him  and  he  was  bold  as  a  lion ;  and  if  the  truth  was 
attacked  he  was  courageous  in  its  defense.  I  will 
mention  two  instances  of  which  I  was  cognizant. 
At  one  of  the  preaching  places  he  was  having  a  good 
work,  and  a  Baptist  minister,  one  of  the  old  blue 
calvinistic  type,  sent  in  an  appointment.  He  desired 
to  establish  the  converts  in  '"  the  doctrines  of  o-race." 
He  proposed  to  begin  with  the  "  final  perseverance 
of  the  saints,"  as  he  hoped  that  God  had  effectually 
called  the  converts  as  "  His  chosen  ones."    He  would 


ikiii 


^■"•^"^'^'•'^'^'•*^ 


78         Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

proceed  from  time  to  time  with  the  "  doctrines  "  as 
they  were  capable  of  receiving  them. 

Bro.  G.  was  present,  and  at  the  close  of  the  sermon 
begged  the  privilege  of  making  a  few  remarks.  He 
began  by  quoting  Charles  Wesley's  hymn  on  "  The 
danger  of  apostacy." 

"  Ah !  Lord  with  treinbhng  I  confess, 
A  gracious  soul  may  fall  from  grace ; 
The  salt  may  loose  its  seas' ning  power 
And  never,  never  find  it  more. 

Lest  that  my  fearful  case  should  be, 
Each  moment  knit  my  soul  to  thee  ; 
And  lead  me  to  th^  mount  above. 
Through  the  low  vale  of  humble  love." 

From  these  premises  he  went  on  to  show  the 
fallacy  of  the  sermon,  to  point  out  the  teachings  of 
the  Bible  in  its  doctrines,  warnings,  encouragements 
and  promises,  and  waxing  warmer  and  clearer  in  his 
exposition,  he  demolished  the  dangerous  dogma  of 
"  once  in  grace  always  in  grace,"  showing  that  it  was 
the  lullaby  of  the  devil,  sung  as  he  rocked  converts 
and  older  Christians  into  the  deep  sleep  of  carnal 
security.  The  good  pewle  responded  warmly  and 
lustily  to  the  sentiments  and  warnings  of  the  speaker ; 
so  triumphant  was  the  preacher  in  vindicating  the 
truth,  that  the  dear  old  calvinist  was  silenced,  and 
never  visited  there  again.  He  made  up  his  mind 
that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  for — 

"  He  who  fights  and  runs  away 
May  live  to  fight  another  day," 

and  so  he  never  returned  again. 


The  Flying  Artillery. 


79 


When  Lyndon  King  was  appointed  to  Gouverneur 
circuit  in  1833,  he  persuaded  his  friend  Bro.  Gould 
to  leave  Franklin  county  and  to  move  withm  the 
bounds  of  that  circuit.  He  obtained  a  situation  for 
him  in  Antwerp  village  to  work  in  a  saw-mill,  and 
he  became  quite  useful  in  that  section  in  this  new 
field  of  labor.  He  performed  his  duties  in  the  mill 
with  dihgence  and  fidehty,  and  went  in  the  surround- 
ing towns  and  neighborhoods  evenings  and  sabbaths 
to  preach  Christ  to  the  people.  He  was  always 
acceptable  in  Antwerp  where  he  lived,  and  drew 
large  congregations  wherever  he  preaohed. 

Antwerp  was  the  stronghold  of  Universalism  in 
that  part  of  the  country.  It  was  the  scene  of  the 
famous  debate  between  Rev.  Luther  Lee,  Method- 
ist, and  Rev.  Pitt  Morse,  Universalist.  Bro.  Lee 
was  an  able  minister  of  our  church,  laboring  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state.  He  was  an  able  divine, 
thoroughly  versed  in  theology,  of  a  logical  mind,  a 
strong  polemic,  and  an  able  defender  of  the  faith. 
Pitt  Morse  w^as  the  champion  of  Universalism,— a 
man  of  art,  ability  and  a  shrewd  debator— alwavs 
ready  to  give  a  challenge  or  to  accept  one. 

These  two  champions  met  in  Antwerp,  and  s})ent 
two  or  three  days  in  discussion.  Each  party  claimed 
the  victory— but  the  verdict  of  Christians,  and  the 
mass  of  outside  people  was  in  favor  of  the  "  Logical 
Lee"  as  he  was  designated.  After  this  debate 
Methodism  held  up  its  head  in  that  section  of  coun- 
try and  made  great  advancement. 
"Reformations   broke  out  in  many  places,  and 


80         Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

there  was  a  great  ingathering  of  souls.  I  was  sent 
into  the  circuit  a  few  months  after  that  controversy, 
and  found  that  Methodism  was  brought  to  the 
front  largely  through  the  instrumentality  of   the 

debate. 

Bro.  Lee  made  a  good  record,  was  always  valiant 
for  the  truth,  and  is  still  living  past  eighty  years  of 
age,  I  think  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  a  hale,  hearty 
old  man,  rich  in  faith,  matured  in  the  Christian 
graces,  and  greatly  beloved  by  all.  He  was  my 
pastor  in  my  boyhood  and  a  warm  friend.  I  have 
alwavs  admired  and  loved  him  for  his  virtues,  his 
talents,  and  his  usefulness. 

In  the  winter  of.  1833  the  Presbyterians  held  a 
protracted  meeting  in  Antwerp  village,  and  during 
its  continuance,  a  prominent  member  of  our  church 
in  that  place  died.  The  leaders  of  the  meeting  not 
wishing  to  have  the  attention  of  the  people  diverted 
from  their  meeting,  went  to  the  bereaved  family  and 
proposed  to  have  the  funeral  held  in  their  church, 
conducted  by  the  evangelist  and  his  assistants  in  the 
ministry,  beheving  that  they  could  use  it  to  the  fur- 
therance of  the  interests  of  the  meeting.  But  the 
family  preferred  to  have  one  of  the  circuit  preachers 
if  they  could  get  them,  or  if  not  they  desired  Mr. 
Gould  to  officiate.  As  the  circuit  preachers  could 
not  be  obtained,  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Bro.  Gould  to 
preach  the  funeral  sermon.  The  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church; finally  got  the  consent  of  the  friends 
to  have  the  services  in  their  church.  This  was  not 
in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  Bro.  G.  for  he 


*Vai&a^'Mi^aiailiiiilliti1iiliifttfe^ 


The  Flying  Artillery,  81 

knew  their  anxiety  to  manage  the  meeting  them- 
selves, and  he  felt  it  a  great  cross  to  preach  in  their 
house  under  the  circumstances.     But  there  was  no 
way  of  avoiding  it.    Gould's  method  of  preparing  for 
the  pulpit  was  on  his  knees.    So  retiring  in  the  morn- 
ingto  a  barn  near  the  saw-mill  in  the  edge  of  the  vil- 
lage for  prayer  and  meditation,  he  spent  about  three 
hours  in  supplication  for  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
making  the  word  effectual,  in  touching  the  hearts  of 
sinners,  and  through  this  solemn  providence  bringing 
thoughtless  men  to  repentance  and  the  acknowledg- 
ing of  the  truth,  that  God  would  deliver  him  from 
the  fear  of  man,  so  that  he  might  boldly  and  plainly 
"declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God  whether  men 
would  hear  or  forbear."     He  became  so  absorbed  in 
prayer  as  to  be  unconscious  of  his  surroundings,  and 
fa<je  to  face  with  God,  Jacob  like,  he  wrestled '  with 
Him  for  the  victory.     Eising  above  a  whispered 
utterance,  his  voice  like  the  trumpet  on  Horeb,  waxed 
louder  and  louder  until  it  rang  like  a  clarion  all 
through  the  village.     The  amazed  people  left  their 
homes  and,  instead  of  going  to  the  meeting,  went  to 
the  barn  to  see  what  it  all  meant.     It  was  said  that 
two  or  three  hundred  gathered  around   the   barn, 
many  of  them  with  their  eyes  at  the  cracks  gazing 
upon  a  man  engaged  with  God  in  prevailing  prayer, 
while  he,  unconscious  of  their  presence,  urged  his 
suit  for  power  to  persuade  men  to  be  reconciled  to 
God. 

A  company  of  late  comers  met  an  open  opposer  of 
rehgion  and  asked  him  hurriedly,  ''  What  is  it  ^"  He 

6        "^ 


82         lleminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

replied  ''It's  the  Methodist  preacher  engaged  in 
secret  prayer,  and  if  God  does  all  he  asks  we  will 
have  a  shaking  time  at  the  funeral  to-day." 

In  the  meantime  the  pleading  preacher  held  on  to 
God,  saying,  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless 
me,"  and  God  blessed  him  gloriously.  In  his  sermon 
God  Ufted  him  above  his  native  timidity,  gave  him 
"boldness  to  make  known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel," 
and  it  was  said  by  the  people  that  "  the  skin  of  his 
face  shone"  as  did  that  of  Moses,  when  he  came 
down  from  Mount  Sinai  after  his  forty  days  audience 
with  God.  The  word  took  effect;  there  was  a 
shaking  among  the  dry  bones,  and  several  dated  their 
awakenings  from  that  wonderful  sermon. 

The  Presbyterian  ministers  were  constrained  to 
acknowledge  that  their  fears  were  groundless ;  that 
God  had  spoken  unmistakably  that  day,  if  not  in  the 
still  small  voice,  yet  in  the  "earthquake  and  the 
fire,"  and  had  chosen  the  weak  things  to  confound 

the  mighty. 

Bro.  Gould  was  a  man  of  the  people,  and  moved 
the  masses  wonderfully  when  "  I  am  "  spake  through 
hhn. 


God's  Hook  in  the  Jaics. 


83 


CHAPTER  YII. 

god's  hook  in  the  jaws. 

[HEEE  is  a  marked  difference  between  the  camp- 
meetings  of  those  early  days  and  the  meetings 
of  recent  years.     Less  preparation  was  made 
formerly  for  comfort  and  everything  was  in  a  very 
crude  state.    But  the  people  came  to  worship  God 
and  save  souls  and  everything  must  yield  to  that ; 

comfort  and  convenience   were  only' a  secondarv 
thing. 

The  preachers'  stand  had  two  sleeping  rooms  ;  one 
under  and  the  other  in  the  rear  of  the  large  pulpit 
Every  prominent  Methodist  family  who  came  to  the 
meeting  brought  an  extra  bed  or  two  for  the  stand, 
enough  to  accommodate  twenty-five  or  thirty  preach- 
ers, and  this  was  for  their  exclusive  use. 

The  prea<jhers  were  always  invited  by  the  tent 
owners  to  their  tables  and  were  well  cared  for  durino- 
the  meeting.  There  was  often  a  little  pleasant  strife 
to  see  who  could  first  engage  his  supply  of  ministers 
for  the  meal.  The  horse  keeping  of  the  preachei^ 
was  provided  for,  as  few  could  pay  their  own.  Our 
people  were  famous  for  their  hospitahty,  and  the  old 
preachers  stiU  hold  this  in  grateful  remembrance. 

The  preaching  wa^  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit 


84        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 


and  with  power.  Some  of  the  sermons  were  of 
classic  mold ;  others  able  doctrinal  discussions,  clear 
and  convincing ;  and  yet  others,  not  remarkable  for 
logical  force,  grammatical  accuracy,  or  rhetorical 
finish,  but  Hke  guns  in  battle,  throwing  balls,  shots 
and  shells  into  the  camp  of  the  enemy,  silencing 
their  batteries  and  compelling  them  to  surrender. 

I  attended  two  camp  meetings  this  year,  one  in 
the  north  part  of  the  district,  the  other  in  Canada. 
They  were  both  very  successful.  The  one  in  Canada 
was  held  in  the  town  of  Matilda,  fifteen  miles  below 
Ogdensburg,  in  a  beautiful  grove  about  one  mile 
back  from  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  Our  Canada 
brethren  were  more  careful  of  the  form  than  we 
were,  but  equally  earnest  and  successful  in  winning 
souls.  There  were  some  things  which  I  admired 
and  thought  an  improvement  oh  our  practice.  On 
the  ground  there  was  as  much  decorum  as  you  would 
find  in  a  church.  All  arose  and  joined  in  the  singing 
and  every  one  in  the  congregation,  both  saint  and 
sinner  knelt  in  prayer.  This  was  new  to  me.  I  had 
been  accustomed  to  see  all  the  church  members  kneel 
in  time  of  prayer,  but  as  I  looked  over  the  congre- 
gation I  noticed  that  all  present,  perhaps  a  thousand, 
were  devoutly  bowed  before  Grod.  As  we  arose  I 
asked  one  of  the  preachers  if  all  in  this  assembly 
were  professors,  and  was  told  that  about  one-third 
were  not,  but  it  was  their  custom  to  conform  to  the 
practice  of  the  church  with  whom  they  met.  It 
would  be  considered  a  breach  of  courtesy  and  a  great 
offense  to  do  otherwise. 


God's  Hook  in  the  Jaws,  85 

The  leading  men  of  that  town  were  members  of 

reli^on.     They  were  strong  in  prayer,  and  when 
penitents  came,  as  they  did  each  da>  in^to  \C'^r^l 

Zfi^'  "^^'^  '^^'  ^^  -^^^   '^^^  brought'Sim 

The  prea<)hers  in  attendance  were  exceUent  men 
more  uniform  as  a  class  than  with  us.  Xo  one 
towered  head  and  shoulder,  above  his  fellows.  The^e 
were  some  sons  of  consolation  among  them  bm 
generally  they  were  of  the  Boanerges  type     S^e  o 

wat  a 't  i^  h         '^  "^'  ^"'"  ^"^  "^  ^'^  i^-    He 
tTrou?  II  '''P^^'"'  ^^^   ^^^^   hi^^self   felt 

through  the  encampment.  The  last  night  of  the 
meetmg  was  a  time  of  marvelous  power ;  f he  ^fint 
the  Lord  were  many.  The  baptism  of  the  Holv 
Ghost  feU  upon  the  sacramental  host  and  they  pushed 
the  battle  to  the  gate  of  the  enemy.  A  colanv  of 
thirty  or  forty  "  fellows  of  the  bir  sort '  cS  in 
to  amuse  themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  Method- 

that  one  of  their  number  should  go  forward  for 
prayers  and  "give  the  Methodists  !  sweat" 
the  rest  were  to  gather  around  and  enjov  the  fun  I 
being  smaU  and  boyish  in  appearance  went  amon ' 
them  without  attracting  attention,  and,  learning 
plan,  communicated  it  to  a  few  of  the  leading  breth- 
ren who  kept  the  secret.   Soon  these  '^  sons  of  Be  Lr 

the  ring  where  an  earnest  prayer-meeting  wa^  going 


ii 


86        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

on  and  many  were  seeking  religion.  Their  ring- 
leader, a  stalwart  man  with  a  slouching  hat  drawn 
down  over  his  eyes,  and  a  long  over-coat  buttoned  to 
his  neck  and  reaching  nearly  to  his  feet,  came  in  the 
attitude  of  one  in  great  distress  and  threw  himself 
among  the  "mourners,"  crying  aloud  for  mercy. 
The  man's  feelings  seemed  so  deep  that  it  might 
have  deceived  the  very  elect.  Two  heavy  brethren 
knelt  by  his  side,  and  whilst  the  man  was  writhing 
and  praying  as  if  in  agony,  they  drew  out  the  skirts 
of  his  strong  overcoat  and  knelt  upon  them.  They 
began  to  pray  for  this  heaven-daring,  God-provoking 
sinner  who,  adding  to  an  ungodly  life,  was  now 
mocking  God  and  msulting  the  people  by  palming 
himself  off  as  a  seeker  of  His  mercy.  They 
prayed  that  God  would  not  strike  him  dead  as  He 
did  the  men  in  the  camp  of  Israel  who  offered  strange 
fire,  but  show  him  his  sins  and  shake  him  over  hell 
until  he  felt  the  scorching  of  the  flames.  He  began 
to  feel  uneasy  and  tried  to  rise,  his  wicked  comrades 
enjoying  the  scene.  Just  then  the  strong-lunged 
Scotchman  shouted  with  a  trumpet  voice  that  went 
ringing  above  everything  else  :  "  Power  of  the  Lord, 
seize  him !  Nail  him  to  the  ground ! " 

The  terrified  man  attempted  to  spring  to  his  feet, 
found  himself  fastened  to  the  ground,  roared  in 
frightened  anguish  and  begun  in  earnest  to  cry  for 
mercy,  confessing  his  sins  with  real  penitence.  His 
friends,  hearing  his  piteous  cries,  fled  from  the 
ground  amazed  and  confounded.  The  brethren  took 
hold  of  his  case  with  united  prayer  and  strong  faith, 


God's  Hook  in  the  Jaws,  87 

and  about  sunrise  the  bold   blasphemer  became  a 
happy  convert.     He  went  out  of  the  grove  tHLk 

^:ii:^\:ft^^^    ^^^^ ^^ ^'^  -^^' ^^ 

Savior      A  fj  ^""u  T'^''"^  '^^^^  '^'^^^  the 

feayior.    A  few  came  back  with  him.     He  led  them 
to  the  spot  where  the  night  before  he  bovved  as^ 
scoffer,  but  arose  clothed  and   in   his   right  rnmd 
Others  kept  coming  and  as  soon  as  he  saf  them  he 

JLit  fhe  w^  ^'^^^  ^^'   ""'-^  therto   lus 
pearly  the  whole  company  were  converted.     These 

brethren  might  well  say  with  St.  Paul :  ^^  ]s^ever  he 
less,  being  crafty  I  caught  you  with  guile  '' 

1  had  been  in  the  work  without  interruption  for 
tn  months  and  my  health  began  to  decline     Mv 

care  and  my  affectionate  colleague,  arranged  for  me 
a  httle  respite,  or  at  least  a  change  of  labor.     I  Z 

Lr^T  whior^'""'^^  ^^  ^^^  '^'^'  I-^  -^"h" 
preachers  on  their  way  to  Conference.  But  -Man 
proposes  and  God  disposes."    I  was  to  fill  mv  ar^ 

tCr;%"  '''  ^^^^^^^^^  ^''^'  ^'  '^^  --"and 
last  m  J  ^^-P-eeting  and  conference.     My 

last  meeting  u^as  to  be  on  the  border  of  the  ^reat 
wilderness  known  there  as  the  "  South  WoS^" 
properly  the  Adirondacks.  On  reaching  the  Ice  I 
found  an  unusually  large  congregation  gfthereS  f rom 

prevailed.  The  preax^her's  voice  would  sometimes 
becWned  by  the  outbursts  of  feeling  on  the  p"rt 
of  the  unconverted.      Old  and    young    bowed  at 


88        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  "mourner's  bench,"  earnestly  seeking  religion. 
Meetings  were  appointed  the  next  day,  both  after- 
noon and  evening,  and  the  work  increased.  The  day 
following  we  met  forenoon,  afternoon  and  evening. 
Crowds  attended  and  the  country  was  thoroughly 
stirred.  It  became  evident  that  I  must  give  up 
the  camp-meeting  which  I  was  very  anxious  to 
attend,  but  I  dare  not  leave  the  work ;  and  when 
the  preachers  returned  from  conference  I  was  still 
pushing  the  battle  to  the  gate.  When  I3ro.  B.  came 
to  look  me  up  he  was  in  good  time  to  baptize  some 
forty  of  the  converts.  After  the  third  day  of  the 
meetinsr  the  school-house  would  not  hold  the  multi- 
tude.  The  brethren  fitted  up  a  large  barn  where  we 
met  for  nearly  three  weeks,  and  that  barn  was  a 
"  Bethel "  to  many  souls. 

As  it  was  in  the  days  of  Job  so  we  found  it  then, 
"  When  the  sons  of  God  came  to  present  themselves 
before  the  Lord,  Satan  came  also  among  them."  He 
manifested  himself  in  this  instance  through  the  peo- 
ple called  '^  Christians."  They  wanted  a  union 
meeting;  this  I  declined  on  the  ground  of  their 
arianism,  they  denying  the  divinity  of  Christ.  One  of 
their  preachers  lived  in  the  place  and  would  complain 
in  every  meeting  of  my  sectarianism  and  opposition 
to  union  meetings,  declaring  that  God  would  curse 
me  and  stop  the  work  if  I  held  them  off.  But  I 
claimed  that  God  commenced  the  work  without  their 
help  and  could  carry  it  on  without  them ;  that  He 
had  pronounced  a  wide  and  withering  curse  against 
"  any  who  shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the 


God^s  Hook  in  the  Jaws, 


89 


Book,"  and  they  had  "  taken  away  my  Lord  and  I 
knew  not  where  they  had  laid  him."     The  Bible 
called  Christ  "the  Mighty  God,"  "the  Great  God," 
"  the  true  God,"  "  the  only  Savior,"  etc.     But  they, 
in  opposition  to  the  Bible,  took  away  His  Godhead 
and  His  ability  to  save,  made  Him  a  mere  man,  and 
they  were  idolaters  as  much  as  the  pagans  were.     I 
would  gladly  unite  with  any  body  of  Christians  who 
were  orthodox  in  fundamental  truth,  no  matter  how 
much  we  differed  on  minor  points.    But  they  had  no 
foundation  to  build  upon  and  their  religion  would  be 
light  and  chaffy.    I  knew  nothing  about  their  history 
in  the  place,  but  such  would  be  the  legitimate  effect 
of  their  doctrine.     Several  voices  said  :  "  It  has  been 
hght  and  chaffy  here."     Four  of   their  ministers 
came  and  staid  several  days,  attending  the  meetings 
and  visiting  from  house  to  house.     But  the  work 
went  on  gloriously ;  they  only  hindered  some  of  the 
young  people  in  their  own  families.     In  a  speaking 
meeting  one   Sabbath  morning,  the  elder  ai-ose  to 
convince  the  people  that  I  was  wrong  in  not  fratern- 
izing with  them.     It  was  so  important  that  God  had 
given  him  a  revelation  from  heaven  showing  that  he 
and  his  people  were  pure  and  acceptable  in  His  sight. 
He  saw,  in  a  vision  of  the  night,  himself  standing 
in  the  presence  of  God,  whose  body  was  clear  and 
transparent  as  glass;   he  could  see  through  every 
part  of  it  as  plainly  as  he  could  see  through  the  win- 
dow; all  was  transparent  but  the  heart;  that  was 
black,  as  God  evidently  designed  to  hide  the  secrets 
of  his  heart  from  men.     In  closing  the  meeting  I 


i| 


HBI^^^Hlg^gg^^^ 


iimkri» 


90        Reminiscences  of  Earhj  Circuit  Life.' 

remarked  that  our  friend's  revelation,  if  there  was 
anything  in  it,  was  an  approval  of  our  course  in 
rejecting  black-hearted  people;  and  I  was  deter- 
mined to  decline  the  union  until  their  black  hearts 
were  made  white. 

I  never  found  opposition  more  bitter  and  inveter- 
ate than  was  here  manifested.     As  a  specimen  I  will 
mention  the  case  of  a  family  in  the  community. 
The  man  was  moral  in  his  life  and  a  good  citizen. 
His  wife  was  awakened,  and  one  evening  when  they 
were  both  at  the  meeting  she  went  to  the  ''  mourners' 
bench "  and  was  converted.     They  went  home  to- 
gether in  silence.    He  made  no  allusion  to  the  subject 
during  the  night,  but  arose  early  and  went  to  consult 
the  elders.     On  his  return  they  sat  down  to  a  late 
breakfast.     As  his  wife  passed  him  a  cup  of  tea  he 
took  it  and  threw  it  m  her  face ;  threw  all  the  food 
on  the  table  at  her,  and  then  the  dishes,  bruising  her 
head  and  cutting  her  face.     She  bore  it  patiently. 
This  enraged  him  the  more,  and  springing  around 
the  table  he  seized  her  by  the  hair  and  beat  her  until 
her  cries  brought  the  neighbors  to  the  rescue.    They 
found  her   with   disheveled    hair,   clothes  torn  to 
tatters,  bruised  and  bleeding.     But  the  brute  drove 
her  from  the  house.     She  fled  to  her  friends  for  pro- 
tection.    He  was  very  angry  with  the  brethren  and 
esj3ecially  with  me,  as  the  supposed  cause  of  her  con- 
version, and  lay  in  wait  several  hours  with  a  loaded 
gun  by  the  wayside  expecting  me  to  pass.     I  was 
prevented  from  going  that  way  by  two  of  his  neigh- 
bors coming  a  mile  to  beg  me  to  take  another  road. 


aMieia 


ffliii»niriiHiiiiii 


God's  Hook  in  ths  Jaws. 


91 


In  his  confession  afterwards,  he  said  he  intended  to 
take  mv  life. 

A  few  days  after,  one  of  the  brethren  got  this  man 
and  his  wife  together  again.     The  man  was  some- 
what subdued,  made  an  apology  and  promised  that 
he  would  not  oppose  her  or  in  any  way  molest  her  in 
the  enjoyment  of  her  religious  privileges.     But  that 
very  afternoon  on  her  Avay  to  the  meeting,  as  she 
passed  the  field  where  he  was  logging,  the  demon 
aroused  him  to  a  fury  and  he  chased  her  to  the  place 
of   worship,  hurling  missiles  at  her.     Two  stones 
came  crashing  through  the  door  as  she  entered  the 
building.     He  came  in,  evidently  intending  to  drag 
her  out,  but  the  service  having  commenced  and  the 
congregation  being  large  his  courage  failed.     Some 
one  gave  him  a  seat  on  the  opposite  side  from  where 
his  wife  sat.     His  appearance  was  shocking ;  he  was 
black  from  the  burning  field,  his  shirt  sleeves  rolled 
above  the  elbow ;  his  hair  was  unkempt ;  his  face 
begrimed,  and  his  whole  person  dirty  and  forbidding. 
There  was  a  hellish  expression  on  his  countenance  as 
he  sat  there  bold  and  defiant.     Before  the  meeting 
closed  he  dropped  his  head  and  began  to  tremble ; 
all  could  see  that  the  Spirit  was  striving  with  him. 
After  preaching  we  had  many  testimonies.     When 
his  wife  spoke  she  made  no  allusion  to  her  trouble, 
but  told  of  the  great  peace  that  God  had  given  her ; 
how  precious  Christ  was ;  her  purpose  to  live  a  con- 
secrated life;   and  asked   prayers  for  herself  and 
friends  that  they  might  be  an  unbroken  circle  in 
heaven.     While    she    was    speaking  her   husband 


92        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

trembled  violently  and  wept  aloud.  We  thought  it 
time  to  pray  and  invited  all  who  wanted  this  peace 
to  come  forward.  Mr.  M.  arose  and  staggered  to 
the  bench.  He  begged  in  piteous  tones  for  his  wife 
to  forgive  and  pray  for  him.  And  there  the  well- 
dressed  wife  and  the  sooty  husband,  folded  in  each 
other's  arms,,  forgetful  of  circumstances,  prayed 
most  earnestly  for  his  salvation.  Eyes  unused  to 
tears  wept  that  day,  and  God  wonderfully  answered 
prayer.  The  husband  was  saved  and  went  home  a 
happy  man,  at  the  head  of  a  happy  family,  to  erect 
the  domestic  altar  and  exemplify  the  transforming 
power  of  grace  in  a  life  of  Christian  usefulness. 

He  joined  the  church  with  his  wife ;  was  appointed 
class-leader  about  a  year  afterwards ;  was  a  faithful 
worker  in  the  vineyard ;  fell  at  his  post  years  later, 
and  to-day  is  among  the  blood-washed  throng.  I 
never  had  a  warmer  friend,  and  I  loved  him  as  a 
brother.  Before  I  left  he  went  twenty  miles  to  get 
a  broad-brimmed  white  hat  for  me,  the  last  minis- 
terial hat  I  ever  wore. 

For  a  young  preacher  to  leave  his  field  of  labor, 
which  has  been  the  object  of  his  solicitude,  and  turn 
to  new  and  untried  scenes,  amid  strangers,  not  know- 
ing the  thing  which  may  befall  him,  is  a  matter  of 
no  small  import.  His  first  charge  is  all  the  world  to 
him.  He  has  lived  for  it,  prayed  for  it,  labored  for 
it,  and  wept  over  it,  and  to  be  torn  away  from  the 
people  of  his  first  love  is  like  blighting  his  brightest 
hopes  and  withering  his  deepest  joys.  He  has  no 
idea  that  he  will  ever  find  another  people  so  kind  or 


God? 8  Hook  in  the  Jaws,  93 

that  he  can  love  so  weU.     This  I  f ullv  realized  when 
I  bade  farewell  to  the  kind  brethren  who  had  coun- 
seled and  prayed  for  me ;  to  the  godly  women  who 
had  cared  for  me  with  a  mother's  tenderness,  and  ix) 
the  converts  for  whom  I  had  wrestled  in  prayer  and 
loved  so  warmly.    But  the  mandate,  "  Go  ye  unto 
aU  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature," 
must  be  obeyed ;  its  claims  ^re  imperative  and  leave 
no  time  for  sadness  or  regret.     With  such  feelings  I 
took  leave  of  weeping  friends  and  mounting  "  Charhe 
Black  "  started  for  Gouverneur  circuit,  my  next  field 
of  labor,  in  July,  1833.     The  circuit  required  about 
the  same  amount  of  preaching  as  the  other ;  perhaps 
the  rides  were  not   quite  so  long.      The  married 
preacher  had  what  was  called  ''  a  rest  week."    Every 
fourth  week  he  had  about  three  days  to  spend  with 
his  family,  preaching  three  times  on  the  Sabbath  and 
three  during  the  week,  but  the  single  preacher  usu- 
ally filled  up  these  rest  days  with  extra  appointments. 
Eev.  Lyndon  King  had  charge  of  the  circuit.    He 
was  an  old  acquaintance  and  a  very  dear  friend.    He 
was  a  good  preacher  and  excelled  in  hortatory  power ; 
was  very  useful  for  several  years,  but  being  ambi- 
tious, thought  his  talents  were  not  appreciated  as 
they  should  have  been,  left  the  church  and  went  off 
with  the  Wesleyan  secession,  but  did  not  succeed 
so  weU  as  in  the  old  church.   He  became  disaffected, 
ran  into  the  bitter  spirit  of  the  "  Come  Outers "' 
denounced  all  church  organizations,  and  finally  died 
a  Spirituahst,  requesting  that  no  prayer  should  be 
offered  at  his  funeral,  or  any  services,  except  some 


94        Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

remarks  made  by  a  Universalist  minister  whom  he 
designated. 

When  I  was  associated  with  him  he  was  a 
sincere  Christian,  a  fair  preacher,  and  a  successful 
man.  He  was  at  that  time  in  the  zenith  of  his 
popularity  and  usefulness.  I  reached  his  home  in 
Gouverneur  early  in  the  week,  and  as  my  list  of 
appointments  did  not  co^nmence  until  Sunday,  had 
three  or  four  leisure  days.  Learning  that  the  Pres- 
byterians were  holding  a  protracted  meeting  at 
Fullerville,  the  place  of  my  Sabbath  appointment,  I 
went  to  attend  it.  I  found  the  meeting  conducted 
by  Kev.  Mr.  T.,  assisted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Butler,  who 
labored  as  a  home  missionary  in  that  section. 

This  was  before  the  controversy  rose  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  known  as  "  old  and  new 
divinity."  And  yet  things  were  fast  verging  in 
that  direction.  Mr.  T.  had  evidently  made  up  his 
mind  that  the  success  of  the  meeting  should  be 
based  on  the  preaching  of  Calvinism,  ^o  that  whilst 
their  measures  were  neio.,  their  divinity  was  old. 
They  had  committees  appointed  to  visit  from  house 
to  house  during  the  time  between  services.  The 
missionary  and  one  or  two  of  the  deacons  went 
into  a  separate  place  to  pray  while  the  evangelist 
preached.  They  had  an  "  anxious  seat "  and  all  the 
appliances  of  a  protracted  meeting  of  that  day. 
Each  sermon  was  a  discussion  of  one  of  the  "  five 
points,"  and  an  application  of  the  doctrine;  but 
how  it  could  be  applied  to  men  was  difficult  to 
understand.     Yet  we  were  urged  to  receive  it  as 


God's  Hook  in  the  Jaws.  95 

Ood's  truth  and  taught  that  submission  to   God's 
plan  was  an  evidence  of  electing  grax5e.     It  reminded 
me  of  Lorenzo  Dow's  definition  of  Calvanism :  "  You 
can  and  you  can't ;  you  will  and  you  won't  •  you 
shall  and  you  shan't ;  you'll  be  damned  if  you  do 
and  you'll  be  damned  if  you  don't."    This  was  a! 
crude  but  fair  setting  forth  of  this  contradictincr 
dogma ;  and  yet  not  so  well  put  as  in  the  elo^menl 
speech  of  Dr.  Foss.   When  president  of  the  Weslevan 
University,    he    presented    its    claims    before  \he 
Central  IS'ew  York  Conference  and  summarized  the 
hyper-Calvinism  of  the  Eastern   States  in  former 
days  as  follows :     "  If  you  seek  religion  you  can't 
find  It.     If  you  find  it  you  won't  know  it.     If  you 
don't  know  it  you  have  got  it;  and  if  you  have  got 
It  you  can't  lose  it ;  and  if  you  lose  it  you  never  had 
It."    Whilst  Methodism,  planting  its  feet  upon  the 
Bible,  taught  that  "if  you  have  been  converted  you 
know  it ;  and  if  you  know  it  you  have  got  it ;  if  you 
have  got  it  you  may  lose  it;  and  if  you  lose  it  Vou 
must  have  had  it."  ^ 

'  I  was  put  upon  one  of  the  visiting  committees 
as  a  courtesy,  and  in  doing  our  work  we  found  a 
family  where  the  lady  of  the  house  was  in  a 
despondent  state  of  mind  on  the  subject  of  salva- 
tion, fearing  that  she  was  a  reprobate ;  and  her 
husband  was  troubled  lest  she  should  lose  her  rea- 
son. My  associate  saw  in  it  the  workings  of  "  elect- 
ing grace  "  and  urged  upon  her  the  doctrine  of  "  dis- 
mterested  benevolence,"  which  required  her  to  be 
just  as  wiUing  to  be  damned  as  to  be  saved.    He 


96        Meininiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

proposed  that  we  leave  her  in  God's  hands  with  the 
assurance  that  however  her  case  might  terminate 
God  would  be  glorified  whether  she  was  saved  or 
damned.  I  sympathized  with  the  despairing  woman 
and,  believing  that  God  works  through  human 
instrumentalities,  proposed  that  we  instruct  and 
pray  for  her.  My  fellow  laborer,  dissenting,  went  on 
his  mission  whilst  I  remained  to  explain  the  way  of 
salvation  and  help  this  "daughter  of  Abraham 
whom  satan  had  bound "  to  break  the  chains  that 
enslaved  her ;  and  God  gloriously  brought  her  out 
of  the  prison  house  of  sin  and  despair  into  the  light 
and  liberty  of  the  Gospel.  Her  conversion  was 
rapturous  and  her  husband,  seeing  the  great  change 
and  the  power  of  truth  to  deliver  even  the  despair- 
ing, said  to  her  with  streaming  eyes :  "  I  will  go 
Avith  you  for  God  is  with  you."  That  evening  when 
the  committee  reported,  my  associate  referred  to  the 
case  of  the  woman  as  an  evidence  that  the  "  truth " 
was  taking  effect  and  "  God  was  about  to  gather  in 
His  chosen  ones."  As  he  sat  doAvn  I  begged  the 
privilege  of  su])plementing  my  brother's  report,  and 
gave  a  full  account  of  the  woman's  conversion  and 
escape  from  the  snare  of  the  devil ;  and  she,  rising 
to  her  feet,  declared  what  great  things  God  had 
done  for  her,  and  that  her  husband  was  seeking 
religion.  The  sermon  that  evening  was  stronger 
than  ever — it  out-Calvined  Calvin  himself — and  the 
speaker  made  a  very  bitter  attack  on  Methodism, 
representing  it  as  the  "  doctrine  of  devils."  I  had 
made  up  mind  when  I  first  6ame  to  the  meeting  not 


Go(rM  Hook  in  (Tie  Jawa.  97 

to  attempt  to  refute  anything  that  to  my  mind  wa^ 
erroneous,  recognizing  their  right  to  preach  their 
own  doctrme  m   their  own  way ;   but  when  they 
turned  aside  to  stab  my  cherished  mother,  I  claimed 
the  right  to  defend  her.     So  at  the  close  of  the  ser- 
mon  I  replied  to  the  charges  made  by  the  speaker 
At  the  meeting  the  next  afternoon.  Brother  Parker' 
the  class-leader,  arose  and  without  having  consulted 
me,  announced  that  I  would  preax^h  at  the  school- 
house  that  evening.     We  had  a  full  house  and  twelve 
or  fifteen  at   the   "  mourner's   bench ; "   appointed 
another  meeting  for  the  next  evening,  but  attended 
the  Presbyterian  Church  during  the  day      We  had 
a  sermon  in  which  the  minister  laid  it  down  a^  the 
doctrine  of  his  discourse  that  -God  hath  from  all 
ete^rnity  fore-ordained  whatsoever  comes  to  pa^s " 
and  from  this  went  on  to  state  that  in  the  counsels 
of  eternity,  God  determined  that  FullerviJle  should 
be  built,  that  just  such  people  should  live  in  it,  that 
this  meeting-house  should  be  erected,  this  protrax3ted 
effort  should  be  made,  that  just  such  ministers  should 
preach  m   it ;   that  every  sermon  and   prayer  and 
remark  was  ordained ;  that  a  certain  person  should  be 
sent  to  break  up  the  meeting;  that  everything  had 
occurred  according  to  God's  plan,  but  he  would  not 
be  that  man  who  had  broken  up  the  meeting  for  ten 
thousand  worlds.     They  had  done  their  duty  and 
would  leave  the  event  with  God.     I  a^ked  the  privil- 
ege at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  to  sav  that  if  I  believed 
the  doctrine  as  stated  I  should  be  greatly  comforted, 
because  I  had  carried  out  my  part  of  the  divine  plan 

7  ' 


98        JReininiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

as  well  as  they  had ;  was  in  no  way  res})onsible,  for 
fate  iroverned  everv  movement,  and  therefore  as 
Pope  says :  "  Whatever  is,  is  right ;''  hut  dissenting 
from  the  views  set  forth,  I  recognized  my  personal 
responsibility  and  fully  beheved  tliat  God  would 
hold  me  to  a  strict  account. 

I  had  from  a  sense  of  dutv  defended  the  truth  of 
the  Ril>le  against  the  wanton  and  unprovoked  attacks 
made  upon  it ;  and  by  a  train  of  jirovidential  cir- 
cunistancos  had  been  led  to  preach  God's  free  Gospel 
to  the  hungry  people  and  He  had  blessed  the  truth 
in  the  conversion  of  several  precious  souls.  Others 
were  seeking,  the  work  was  spreading,  and  we  were 
praying  and  looking  for  a  general  revival.  If  they 
closed  their  meeting  as  they  had  announced,  I  cor- 
dially invited  them  to  attend  ours,  assuring  them 
that  they  would  be  treated  with  Christian  courtesy 
and  welcomed  as  helpers  in  the  great  work  of  soul 
saving.  That  was  the  only  time  in  ray  ministry 
that  1  had  trouble  with  the  Presbyterians.  Have 
always  found  them  to  be  reliable  and  fair,  and  could 
trust  them  in  union  meetings  as  above  trickery  and 
proselytism.  I  have  had  a  high  regard  for  them  as 
the  church  of  my  parents,  was  baptized  at  their 
altar,  trained  in  their  Sunday  school,  educated  in 
their  doctrines,  and  though  I  could  not  conscien- 
tiously believe  them,  have  appreciated  their  motives 
and  admired  the  strength  of  their  church  polity. 
Whilst  a  Methodist  from  principle,  and  loyal  to  the 
church  of  my  choice,  I  have  always  entertained  a 
high  regard  for  them  and  rejoiced  in  their  prosper- 


God's  Hook  in  the  Jawn.  9.) 

ity.  God  bless  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  bless  all 
the  churches  and  help  us  to  "  keep  the  unity  of  the 
spirit  m  the  bonds  of  peace,"  and  each  do  his  part  in 
spreading  the  glorious  Gospel  "  until  it  brio-htens 
into  the  glory  of  the  millennial  morning."       " 

Eev.  Mr.  E.  regretted  the  severity  of  the  evangel- 
ist and  months  afterwards  ajwlogized  for  his  course 
and  cordially  invited  me  to  assist  him  in  a  two  days 
meeting  when  we  labored  in  harmony  and  Christian 
fellowship.    A  little  incident  occurred  in  that  meet- 
ing which  annoyed  the  minister  but  did  not  so  seri- 
ously aflfect  me.    Among  those  who  attended  the 
meeting  was  Mrs.  P.,  a  member  of  Mr.  B.'s  church 
f^he  was  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  but  had 
-  lost,  m  a  measure,  her  reason-was  just  deranged 
enough  to  make  her  sharp  and  witty.     Mr  B  was 
not  in  her  favor,  but  she  called  me  "  Gideon  "  and 
kindly  yielded   to   my   influence.      Her  responses 
sometimes  pertinent  and  again  adverse,  were  quite 
annoying    to    the    minister,   and   when   he  gently 
rebuked  her  she  would  respond :    "  I'll  mind  Gideon 
but  not  you.-'     I  would  sometimes  go  and  sit  by  her 
an.    keep  her  quiet.     On  the  afternoon  of  the  sec- 
ond day  Mr.  B.  was  preaching  a  solemn  sermon  thai 
in  some  way  did  not  suit  her  and  I  was  not  able  to 
quiet  her.     Her  comments  on  the  sermon  discon- 
certed the  speaker  and  he  asked  two  of  his  deacons 
to  remove  her  from  the  house.    Two  grave  men 
came  and  each  taking  her  by  an  arm  led  her  slowly 
t  irough  the  broad  aisle  towards  the  door.     Every- 
tlimg  was  quiet  until  they  reached  the  middle  of  the 


.-?fe-(!l?lMlij-!>)»(Sa?Ei^|5^ 


100      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

house,  when  Mrs.  P.  said  with  a  resigned,  drawhng 
voice :  "  O  dear  me,  I  never  felt  so  much  Uke  my 
blessed  Master  before.  He  was  crucified  between 
two  thieves:'  This  was  too  much  for  the  gravity 
of  the  congregation;  they  broke  out  in  a  fit  of 
laughter,  and  the  deacons  releasing  their  hold  on 
the  lady  passed  through  the  door,  leaving  her  stand- 
ing alone  in  the  aisle.  There  stood  the  annoyed 
speaker  with  a  sepulchral  look  on  his  countenance, 
not  a  muscle  of  the  face  moving,  whilst  the  people 
were  convulsed  with  laughter.  I  went  and  led  the 
lady  back  to  her  seat  and  broke  the  spell  by  request- 
ing Mr.  B.  to  go  on  with  his  sermon  and  I  would  be 
responsible  for  order ;  but  we  could  not  recover  and 
so  dismissed  with  the  benediction.  We  had  an 
excellent  meeting  in  the  evening  and  closed  with  a 
delightful  fraternal  spirit. 

The  revival  spread  widely  in  FuUerville  and  vicin- 
ity, and  many  of  all  ages  were  subjects  of  the  work. 
When  at  its  height,  Mr.  L.,  a  Universalist  preacher 
from  a  neighboring  village,  came  to  the  meeting. 
He  was  amiable  and  gentlemanly,  not  inclined  to 
make  trouble,  but  spent  the  day  quietly  giving  close 
attention  to  the  services.  Some  of  the  families  con- 
verted had  been  attendants  on  his  ministry  and  their 
experience  affected  him  to  tears.  A  convert's  meet- 
ing was  appointed  at  the  Temperance  Hotel  for  6 
o'clock  that  afternoon  and  he  asked  the  privilege  of 
attending  it.  Consulting  the  converts,  they  joined 
me  in  inviting  him  to  come.  The  meeting  was 
large,  the  parlor,  sitting-room  and  hall  were  crowded. 


God's  Book  in  the  Jaws,  101 

I  arranged  the  active  converts  in  the  center  and 
gave  Mr.  L.  a  seat  with  me  at  the  table.    After  a 
season  of    prayer,   in   which   he   was    p^ticularlv 
remembered,  the  testimonies  began  and  several  of 
his  former  hearers  made  affecting  appeals  to  him  to 
jom  tliem  in  the  service  of  the  Lord.     He  was  verv 
much  affected  and  we  began  to  hope  that  he,  too 
might  be  converted.     As  there  were  some  "seek- 
ers "  present  we  engaged  in  united  prayer  for  them 
but    the    burden  of    prayer  was    for    Mr.    L     It 
mcreased  in  earnestness  until  it  became  a  struggle 
with  God  for  his  salvation.     O,  how  those  youn^ 
(  hristians  prayed !     They  wrestled  like  Jacob,  hold 
ing  God  with  a  grasp  of  faith.     Wliile  this  agony  of 
prayer  was  at  its  height,  a  bevy  of  young  ladies  rose 
spontaneously   without  consultation,  came  and  fell 
on  their  knees  around  Mr.  L.,  and  began  to  entreat 
iiim  to  seek  religion.     Trembling  hke  an  aspen  leaf 
he  tried  to  tell  them  that  he  had  rehgion,  but  thev 
were  not  to  be  diverted  from  their  purpose.     "  You 
never  told  us  we  must  be  converted ;  we  never  heard 
you  relate  a  Christian  experience,  and  we  want  vou 
to  love  Jesus  and  serve  Him."    Thus  thev  pleaiied 
with  him  while  the  struggle  of  prayer  went  on.     He 
turned  to  me  in  great  agitation  and  begged  of  me  to 
take  them  off."     I  said  to  him  this  is  none  of  mv 
doing;  It  is  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  I  dare 
not  interfere.     This  is  God  speaking  to  you ;  perhaps 
It  IS  your  last  caU ;  you  had  better  yield  to  God      I 
Have  seldom  seen  such  a  contest.     Shaking  with 
emotion,  his  face  wet  with  tears,  he  sprang  to  his 


102      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

feet  and  rushed  from  the  house.  It  was  a  terrible 
hour  to  him.  Who  knows  but  somewhere  down  in 
the  future  those  agonizing  prayers  were  answered. 
It  was  said  that  he  seemed  different  after  this  and 
soon  left  the  place  and  I  lost  sight  of  him.  The 
revival  strengthened  our  church  and  was  a  blessmg 
to  many. 


I 


(r(Kr.s    H  (tfk'tnen  Sncve^fful. 


103 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


(40I)  S    WORKMEN  ^s^('('K8KFUL. 


FOUR  days'  meeting  was  held  during  the  firet 
quarter  of  the  conference  year  at  a  central  part 
of  the  circuit.     All    the   local    preachers   and 
exhorters  were  requested  to  attend  and  each  was  to 
preach  or  conduct   a  service   during   the   meeting. 
Exhortei-s  were  not  permmitted  to  announce  a  text 
or  pronounce  the  benediction.     They  usuallv  read  a 
chapter  or  a  paragraph  of  Scripture,  giving  a  brief 
exposition  until  they  reached  the  passage  on  which 
they  wished  to  dwell,  and  then  improved  it  as  God 
gave  them  liberty.     The  church  was  very  particular 
not  to  allow  them  to  preach,  but  to  confine  them- 
selves closely  to  the  line  of  service  for  which  tliey 
were  appointed ;  any  departure  from  this  would  sub- 
ject them  to  official  reproof,  and  if  repeated,  would 
call  for  church  discipline.     But  like  John  the  Baptist 
It  might  be  said  of  them,  "  Many  things  in  his  exhor- 
tation preached  he  unto  the  people."     Nearly  every 
one  of  the  local  preachers  and  exhorters  attended  this 
meeting.     The  two  itinerants  and  these  twelve  local 
preachers  and  exhorters  constituted  the  ministerial 
force  of  the  cfrcuit.     This  meeting  was  afterwards 
referred  to  as  the  -'trial   meeting,"  because  it  was 


104       Reminiseences  of  Early  CirGuit  Life. 

thought  the  preacher  in  charge  wanted  to  know  the 
abihty  of  his  helpers.  It  was  a  meeting  that  awak- 
ened considerable  interest  and  called  out  a  large 
attendance.  The  "preachments"  were  singularly 
characteristic  of  the  men ;  some  of  them  were  well 
arranged  and  methodical ;  some  disconnected  and 
rambling  and  others  unique  and  striking,  but  all  gave 
evidence  of  earnest  piety  and  careful  tliought.  An 
attentive  hearer  would  be  impressed  with  the  humil- 
ity of  the  speakers  and  their  deep  sense  of  responsi- 
bility. But  as  they  proceeded,  God  would  lift  them 
above  embarrassment  until  thev  became  bold  as  lions 
in  the  delivery  of  their  message,  and  gave  clear 
evidence  of  their  divine  call  to  the  work.  While 
each  acquitted  himself  satisfactorily  yet  there  wei*e 
some  whose  thoughts  were  "  as  a  nail  fastened  in  a 
sure  {)lace."  Though  fifty  years  have  passed  since  I 
listened  to  them  and  all  but  one  or  two  have  gone  to 
their  reward,  their  words  recur  to  me  with  freshness 
and  force.  Brother  Phelps  lived  up  in  the  woods  in 
a  retired  place,  had  a  large  family  and  was  very  poor. 
He  was  a  modest,  timid  man ;  it  was  a  great  cross  for 
him  to  speak  before  other  ministers.  He  had  a 
logical  mind  and  when  he  used  a  figure  he  managed 
it  with  fine  effect  and  made  a  close  application  of  his 
subject  to  the  conscience.  His  text  on  that  occasion 
was  :  "  He  hath  filled  the  huno^ry  with  o^ood  thinofs ; 
and  the  rich  he  hath  sent  empty  away."  He  was  a 
fluent,  forcible  speaker,  ''  a  workman  that  needeth 
not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
truth."     The  im])ression  made  by  the  sei'mon  was 


^^^l^mgl^gggjgl^ 


God^s    Workmen  Successful. 


105 


deep  and  lasting ;  he  closed  amid  the  shouts  of  the 
pious  and  the  sobs  of  the  awakened.  Several  came 
to  the  mourners'  bench  and  were  converted. 

Brother  Sprague  was  a  school  teacher  and  a  man 
of  property,  but  not  an  original  thinker  or  an  easy 
sj^eaker,  but  a  very  pious  man  and  had  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  people  among  whom  he  lived. 
He  preached  on  the  "  sheep  and  the  goats.''     He  had 
read  Clark's  Commentaries  closely  and  undertook  to 
trace  the  analogy  between  the  sheep  and  the  Christ- 
ian and  the  goat  and  the  sinner.     He  had  a  catarrhal 
difficulty  that   would  occasionally  affect  the  nasal 
organs,  stopping  the  voice  and  requiring  a  sudden 
force  of  the  breath  to  clear  it.     He  became  excited 
and  earnest  in  showing  that  the  sheep  was  useful, 
and  so  was  the  Christian ;  the  sheep  was  clean,  so 
was  the  Christian,  etc.    Then  he  took  the  other  side 
and  stated  that  the  goat  was  unruly  and  so  was  the 
sinner ;  the  goat  was  cross,  always  ready  to  butt  an v- 
one  that  came  in  his  way,  so  were  sinners.     And  so 
he  went  on  until  he  capped  the  climax  by  announcing 
tljat  the  goat  was  an  offensive  animal,  had  a  bad 
odor  and  so  had  sinners.     His  nasal  twang  threw 
such  emphasis  on  the  latter  part  of  the  sentence  as 
to  disturb   the  gravity   of    the  audience  and   the 
younger  portion   ran  from  the  house  in  a  burst  of 
laughter.     It  was  considered  a  moving  sermon. 

Father  Soper,  an  exhorter,  read  the  storv  of  the 
great  draught  of  fishes  on  Tiberius  and  the  risen 
Saviour's  questions  to  Peter—"  Lovest  thou  me  ?"— 
and  then  how  tenderly  He  renewed  Peters  commis- 


1U6       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

sion,  saying:  '^Feed  my  sheep,"  "Feed  my  lambs." 
lie  confined   bis  remarks  to  tbe  latter.     Father  S. 
was  a  line  specimen  of  a  Green  IVlountain  Yankee, 
shrewd  and  fearless,  with  a  full  nasal  drawl  to  bis 
voice.     He  made  several  suggestions  as  to  tbe  care 
of  converts  and  young  C^bristians,  which  were  im- 
portant, and  then  cautioned  us  against  hurtful  things. 
He  closed  by  saying  that  in  his  native  State,  Vermont, 
there  grew  in  the  fields  a  weed  called  "  kill-lamh;' 
which,  if  eaten  by  a  lamb,  produced  certain  death. 
He  gave  the  symptoms  produced  by  the  plant.      He 
said  he  had  noticed  a  weed  in  this  country  that  when 
taken  by  tbe  converts  always  produced  death.     That 
weed  was  Calvinism.     It  destroyed  their  spirituality. 
There  sat  the  deacons  and  members  of  the  other 
churches   while   the  good  old   man   earnestly   and 
repeatedly  warned    us  to  keep  the   converts  from 
"  kill-lamb "  if  we  wished  them  to  become  healthy 
and  useful  sheep.     The  meeting  was  full  of  interest 
and  a  marked    success,   resulting    in   much    good. 
These  brethren  returned  to  their  homes  ''  endowed 
with  power  from  on  high"  and  entered  upon  the 
work  of  soul-saving  with  divine  unction.     Each  of 
these  men  conducted  two  or  three  services  every 
Sabbath  in  the  different  towns  of  the  circuit,  and 
from  one  to  three  during  the  week,  averaging  more 
than   three  each   week— making  fifty-four  sermons 
from  the  traveling  and  local  preachers  and  exhorters 
every  week,  and  aggregating  about  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  annually.      Every  man  aimed  at  present 
effect  and  these  hundreds  of  meetings  over  the  cir- 


riiTiriiiriBr  JJIMliiiiBwiMiteMfBi 


God's    Worhnen  Successful. 


inr 


cuit  established  believers  and  brought  many  to  Christ 
and  pushed  on  the  work. 

In  addition  to  the  ministerial  forces,  we  had  over 
thirty  class  leaders,  men  of  power,  mighty  in  prayer 
and  exhortation,  who  held  prayer  meetings  at  every 
appointment  at  an  hour  that  would  not  interfere  witli 
the  preaching  service.     Some  of  them  met  more  tlian 
one  class  and  went  into  the  surrounding  neighbor- 
hoods and  held  meetings.     I  have  often  known  pow- 
ei-ful  revivals  carried  on  by  these  men  without  the 
aid  of  preachers  only  as  they  came  on  their  regular 
rounds.     The  Methodists  were  a  working  people ; 
they  could  all  exhort  and  pray  and  sing  and  shout,' 
and  were  a  power  for  good.     The  old  Weslevan  adage 
was  true  of  them,  "  They  were  all  at  it  and  always 
at  It."     They  used  to  sing  an  old  hymn  that  well 
represented  them : — 

*'  We  want  no  cowards  in  our  bands 
Who  will  our  colors  flv : 
But  call  for  valiant  hearted  men 
Who  are  not  afraid  to  die." 

I  have  endeavored  to  avoid  invidious  comparisons 
as  I  write,  but  the  question  will  sometimes  rush  to 
the  mind  and  burn  in  my  heart.  If  we  had  retained 
the  spirit  and  zeal  of  Wesley  and  Fletcher,  of  Coke 
and  Asbury  and  the  early  Methodists,  might  we  not 
have  taken  the  world. for  Christ  ?  Before  the  winter 
had  fairly  closed  in  upon  us,  revivals  broke  out  at 
several  points  and  during  the  year  we  had  a  great 
in-gathering  of  souls.  Kearlv  "^everv  appointment, 
great  and  small,  shared  in  the  work.  ^ 


lOS       Remimscences  of  Early  Clrcmt  Life. 

From  remarks  I  sometimes  hear,  made  bv  both 
ministers  and  membei-s  of  our  church,  I  have  thought 
that  it  is  pretty  generally  believed  that  the  local 
preachers  and  exhortei*s  of  that  day  were  an  ignorant 
class  of  men,  but  allow  me  to  say  that  such  was  not 
the  case.  Many  of  these  were  illiterate  men,  but  no 
man  who  was  authorized  bv  the  church  to  teach 
others  and  conduct  the  services  of  reliction  was  an 
ignoramus ;  our  fathei-s  were  too  wise  and  prudent 
to  allow  that.  Gifts,  gi*ace  and  usefulness  were 
imperative  qualifications  for  the  work,  and  when 
men  came  before  one  of  these  large  quai-terly  con- 
ferences for  license,  they  were  subjected  to  a  very 
critical  and  rigid  examination.  They  must  know 
about  his  ^*  gifts.''  Has  he  I'mncledge?  Has  he 
ready  utterance f  Can  he  comraunicate  cUarly  f 
They  must  be  satisfied  about  his  '-^  graced  Is  he 
uniformly  and  deeply  pious  f  Is  he  exemplary  / 
And  they  must  understand  about  his  "usefulness^ 
Has  he  fruit?  Does  God  hi  ess  his  labors  f  He 
must  be  carefuUy  examined  on  doctrines  and  disci- 
pline. It  was  a  day  of  doctrinal  discussion.  Men 
fought  like  gladiatoi*s  and  our  church  had  too  much 
at  stake  to  send  out  if^norant  men.  Xot  that  everv 
one  must  be  a  master  in  polemics,  but  he  was 
expected  to  be  able  to  give  a  common  sense  exposi- 
tion of  the  doctrines  and  ethics  of  the  Bible.  I 
have  known  Elder  Chase  and  other  presiding  elders 
to  examine  one  candidate  for  two  or  three  hours.  I 
remember  how  he  put  me  through  the  doctrines.  I 
trembled  and  perspired,  but  he  followed  me  without 


God\^    WorJctnen  Successful, 


1(»9 


mercy  into  every  nook  and  corner,  and  if  I  knew 
but  little  when  he  began  I  learned  something  before 
he  ended.     That  examination  was  of  great  value  to 
me  for  it  taught  me  the  necessary  importance  of 
being  prepared  for  all  future  emergencies.     To  show 
the  supposed  ignorance  of   the  early  preachers,  I 
have  heard   ever  since   I   was  a  boy  of   "Father 
Abbott"  taking  for  his  text  the  words,  "I  know 
thee  to  be  an  oyster  man;'  and  telling  his  hearers 
how  oysters  were  gathered :     A  man  went  to  the 
ocean  and  with  a  great  iron  rake  drew  them  out. 
The  oyster  man  represented  the  preacher,  the  rake 
the  Gospel,  the  teeth  of  the  rake  the  essential  doc- 
trines, the  ocean  the  world.     And  he  raked  the  con- 
gregation until  he  gathered  several  to  the  "  mourn- 
ers' bench "  and  got  them  soundly  converted.     A 
friend  said   to   him   the   next    morning:     "Father 
Abbott,  you  did  not  read  your  text  right  last  night, 
it  is :     'I  know  thee  to  be  an  austere  mam.,'  which 
means  rough,  hard,  severe."     "  Never  mind,"  said  the 
"  son  of  thunder,"  "  oysUr  or  austere,  I  got  what  I 
was  after— souls  converted."     But  Methodist  preach- 
ers are  not  the  only  men  who  have  blundered  in 
reading.     Dr.   Adam  Clark  tells  us   that  he  once 
attended  service  in  a  city  church ;  the  lesson  for  the 
day  had  the  word  "  Sennacherib  "  in  it.     The  parish 
minister  first  pronounced  it  sen  a  cheruh,  then  san-a^ 
nib,  and  finally  called  it  snach  crah.     A  minister  of 
a  respectable  church,  not  Methodist,  preached  on  the 
text,  "  A  double  minded  man  is  unstable  in  all  his 
^vays,"  and  went  on  to  show  that  a  double  mind 


I 


110     '  Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

denoted  great  strength  of  mind  and  power  of  inves- 
tigation. He  is  "  unstahle^''  not  cooped  up  in  a  stahle^ 
but  ranging  through  creation  employing  the  powers 
of  his  great  dmible  mind  in  measuring  the  planets, 
telling  their  revolutions  and  going  down  into  the 
wonders  of  providence  and  grace. 

I  wish  to  give  my  testimony  in  favor  of  om^ 
pioneer  local  preachers.  Many  of  them  were  unlet- 
tered men,  but  not  ignoramuses.  They  were  men  of 
good  common  sense,  well  read  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Bible  and  in  biography.  In  a  new  country  they  were 
great  helpers  in  gathering  the  masses  into  the  fold 
and  pushing  on  the  triumphs  of  the  cross.  Many 
who  became  distinguished  for  piety  and  usefulness 
were  brought  to  Christ  through  their  instrumentality. 
Kev.  Augustus  M.  Toplady,  a  finished  scholar  and 
author  of  ''  Eock  of  Ages,"  was  awakened  and  con- 
verted tlirough  a  sermon  preiiched  by  an  illiterate 
local  preacher,  in  a  barn  in  Ireland.  I  have  seen  it 
stated  that  Eev.  Charles  H.  Spurgeon  was  brought 
to  Christ  by  the  preaching  of  one  of  these  humble 
men.  Eev.  John  Seys,  the  indefatigable  and  devoted 
missionary  to  Africa,  was  converted  through  the 
preaching  of  a  black  boy.  I  heard  him  relate 
his  experience  at  a  camp  meeting  over  fifty  years 
ago.  His  home  was  in  the  West  Indies,  and  strolling 
out  for  a  walk  one  day,  he  was  attracted  by  the  sing- 
ing to  a  meeting  held  in  a  negro  cabin,  and  being 
too  proud  to  enter  he  stood  without,  charmed  by  the 
music,  which  was  followed  by  a  prayer  that  awak- 
ened strange  emotions  in  his  soul.     From  its  appro- 


!  aa:>...ffit.r.t^y.r''.:i 


God^s    Workmen  Succe.sfnJ. 


Ill 


priateness  and  fervency  he  made  up  his  mind  it  must 
be  one  of  the  missionaries  who  was  laboring  on  tlie 
island.     While  the  next  hymn  was  sung  he  movc^l 
around  in  front  of  the  open  door  that  he  miglit  get  a 
view  of  the  preacher,  when  to  his  surprise  a  black 
boy   arose  and   announced  as  his  text:     '^t   is  a 
faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation  that 
Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.'' 
It   was  the  same  voice  that  charmed  him  m  tlie 
prayer.      Disgusted    and   chagrined    he   turned    to 
leave,  but  curiosity  cliained  him  to  the  spot,  and 
before  the  sermon  ended  he  saw  himself  the  ^*  chief 
of  sinners,"  and  entering  tlie  cabin  asked  the  hum- 
ble negroes  to  pray  for  him.     And  there  tlie  proud 
and  cultured  young  man  surrendered  to  (Christ,  and 
became  an  able  minister,  a  successful  missionary  and 
a  useful  man  of  God.     Will  not  the  spirit  of   the 
heroic  Seys  shine  as  a  gem  in  the  crown  of  that 
humble  slave  preacher  ?     Eternity  alone  can  tell  the 
influence  these  earnest,  unlettered  men  have  exerted 
for  Christ.     They  have  been  an  arm  of  strength  to 
the  church  and  gathered  many  into  the  Shepherd's 
fold.     Let  our  local  brethren  know  their  calling  as 
standard  bearers  in  the  militant  ranks,  and  go  out 
every  Sabbath  afternoon  into   the  school  districts, 
preach,  pray  and  visit,  as  of  yore,  and  many  will 
rise  to  call  them  blessed. 

Are  we  not  letting  go  our  hold  of  the  agricultural 
districts  in  our  zeal  for  the  great  centres?  You  will 
often  find  territories,  miles  in  extent,  without  Sabbath 
schools  or  religious  privileges. 


112       Bemvniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Beloved  brethren !  the  fields  are  all  white,  calling 
vou  to  the  harvest ;  thrust  in  your  reapers,  or  other 
laborers  will  take  your  crown. 

O  for  the  self  sacrificing  spirit  of  the  fathers,  the 
zeal  that  cries,  ''  Give  me  souls,  or  else  I  die,"  the 
tongues  of  fire  and  hearts  of  love,  to  pull  them  from 
the  fire  and  snatch  them  from  the  gates  of  hell. 

We  held  a  four  days'  meeting  in  the  town  of 
Edwards,  commencing  about  the  first  of  December, 
1883,  but  we  could  not  close  it  for  over  four  weeks. 
The  meeting  was  held  in  a  large  school  house.  Near 
the  center  of  the  house  was  built  a  hearth  elevated 
from  the  floor  about  four  inches.  On  this  was  a 
large  "potash  kettle"  turned  bottom  upwards  for  a 
stove,  with  a  hole  in  the  top  for  the  stove  pipe  and 
a  piece  broken  out  of  the  edge  for  the  door.  There 
were  no  dampers,  and  as  the  heat  could  not  be  regu- 
lated, it  was  often  intolerable ;  such  was  our  meeting 
house.  The  country  school  houses  of  that  day  were 
much  larger  than  they  are  now,  and  a  great  many 
people  could  be  packed  in  one  of  them.  A  row  of 
people  sat  upon  the  writing  desk,  with  their  backs 
against  the  wall,  another  on  the  seat  in  front,  then 
another  on  the  second  tier  of  desks,  and  so  on.  The 
assembly  rose  from  the  center  in  the  form  of  an 
amphitheatre— making  an  imposing  appearance. 

The  people  came  in  large  numbers  to  the  meeting 
from  a  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles,  either  on  foot 
or  with  ox  teams.  Large  sleds  supplied  with  straw 
and  kersey  blankets  accommodated  the  church  goers. 
These  teams  usuallv  started  about  8  o'clock  in  the 


God's   Workmen  Successful.  113 

afternoon,  gathering  the  people  as  thev  went  and 
carrying  from  forty  to  fifty,  great  and  smaU.     As 
soon  as  two  or  three  families  were  seated  on  the  sled 
in  the  straw,  they  began  to  sing,  and  it  seems  to  me 
as  I  recall  those  rides,  that  the  sweet  lyrics  of  the 
immortal  Wesley  never  produced  a  deeper  effect  than 
when  they  rose  full-voiced  from  those  crowded  sleds, 
enhvening  the  settlements  and  echoing  through  the 
woods.      Xo  levity  was  indulged  in.     The  theme  of 
conversation  was  the  revival,  the  importance  of  get- 
ting the  converts  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
how  we  might  get  others  started.     When  we  came 
to  a  house  there  was  no  waiting  for  the  family ;  they 
had  heard  the  singing  before  we  reached  the  "clear- 
ing"   and   were   all   ready  standing  at  the    bars. 
Buck  and  Bright,  the  oxen,  seemed  to  feel  the  spirit 
of  the  occasion  and  moved  with  rapid  step,  often 
breaking  into  a   brisk   trot   where   the  road    was 
descending.     Every  old  Christian  was  eager  to  know 
how  each  convert  was  prospering ;  whether  the  "  seek- 
ers" were  blessed,  and  exhorted  their  unconverted 
neighbors  to  "  come  over  on  the  Lord's  side."    They 
worked  just  as  hard  out  of  the  meeting  as  in  it ;  and 
that  is  saying  a  great  deal,  for  those  old  Methodists 
made  themselves  heard  and  felt  in  the  meetino-s. 

Here  we  are  at  Mr.  C.'s.  They  are  all  ready,  and 
dear  Brother  Greene,  the  class-leader,  had  come  from 
^lus  home,  four  miles,  to  start  them  for  the  kingdom 
His  face  is  radiant  with  joy,  theirs  wet  with  tears,  as 
he  tells  us  that  "  John  and  his  wife  have  started  " 
It  would  thrill  you  with  delight  to  hear  the  "  Glorv 

8 


114      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

to  God"  that  went  up  from  that  ox-sled  as  the 
announcement  was  made.  As  we  reach  the  next 
house  our  company  are  singing  : 

"  Come  sinners  to  the  Gospel  feast, 
Let  every  soul  be  Jesus's  guest." 

each  verse  ending  mth  the  chorus : 

"  Come  my  loving  neighbors  and  serve  the  Lord." 

Old  Brother  T.  and  family  are  ready,  and  as  his 
son  and  daughter,  who  have  been  resisting  the  Spirit, 
are  greeted  and  welcomed  they  begin  to  melt.  I 
have  prayed  more  than  once  for  the  serious  in  a  load 
on  the  ox-sled  and  witnessed  conversions  on  the  way 
to  meeting.  As  we  reach  the  school  house  we  meet 
other  loads,  and  judging  from  the  singing  the  house 
must  be  pretty  well  filled  already.  The  oxen  are 
chained  to  a  stump  in  a  sheltered  place ;  a  bundle  of 
hav  is  thrown  before  them  and  we  join  the  happy 
singers  within. 

The  meeting  commences  at  "  early  candle  light." 
Each  family  has  brought  a  candle  or  two.  Some  are 
placed  on  the  table  where  the  ministers  sit,  but  most 
of  them  are  fastened  to  the  casings  and  posts  with 
jack-knives. 

After  the  opening  exercises  the  minister  takes  otf 
his  coat  and  cravat — for  the  old  potash  caldron  is  at 
its  best  and  no  matter  how  high  the  mercury  rises 
his  message  is  one  of  hf e  or  death  and  must  be  dehv- 
ered.  I  have  heard  of  late  years  of  "a  pulpit 
sweat,"  and  think  it  must  have  originated  over  that 
red    hot    potash    kettle.      After    the    sermon,  the 


Go(Ts    Worhnen  Successful.  n5 

"seekers"  were  invited  to  the  "mourners'  bench" 
and  prayer  seldom  ceased  until  several  were  con 
verted     Rising  during  the    singing,   we  gave  an 
opportunity  for  the  happy  converts  to  teU  "  what 
God  had  done  for  their  souls."     Often  one  of  these 
new  converts,  while  telling  of  the  joys  of  pardon 
would  see  some  old  associate  in  sin  sitting  in  the 
congregation;  would  rush  to  him,  throw  his  arms 
about  his  neck,  and  with  tears  and  entreaties  beseech 
him  to  come  to  Christ.    He  was  often  successful, 
and  when  we  bowed  again  in  prayer,  new  cases  must 
be  carried  to  the  mercy  seat.    And  it  was  marvelous 
how  these  converts  of  but  an  hour  would  pray  and 
abor.    Sometimes  we  would  close  the  meeting  at 
K-  ocock,  but  very  often  had  to  begin  again"  as 
some  distressed  souls  would  cry  for  mercv.     It  was 
often  2  o  clock  in  the  morning  before  the'more  dis- 
tant attendants  could  reach  home  and  get  to  rest 
15ut  they  were  on  hand  again  the  next  evening,  fresh 
as  ever  for  the  work.     How  true  the  Scriptums : 
As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be."    Brother 
K.  and  myself  usually  lodged  with  Brother  (^reen 

full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  and  a  most 
earnest  and  successful  worker.  He  had  a  very  line 
temily,  reminding  one  of  the  family  at  Bethany 
whom  Jesus  loved.  His  wife  was  a  woman  of 
rare  virtues,  combining  Mary's  love  with  Martha's 

serving.       The  children  were  all  pious  down  to  the 

w'  TI^ '''''  ^''>'-    "  ministering  to  the  com- 
lort  ot  the  preachers  is  equivalent  to  "  washing  the 


116       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

disciples'  feet "  then  is  this  virtue  recorded  fully  to 
their  credit  above.  They  built  a  wing  to  their  house, 
which  was  furnished  comfortably  and  tastefully  for 
the  exclusive  use  of  the  preacher,  and  here  the  weary 
itinerants  found  a  restful  home.  I  spent  some  of 
the  happiest  nights  of  my  life  in  that  "  Prophet's 
chamber  "  during  the  two  years  that  I  remained  on 
the  circuit.  Many  times  during  the  revival,  I  have 
been  called  from  my  bed  of  slumber  to  the  sitting 
room,  to  pray  for  some  awakened  person  who  came 
crying:  "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?"  This 
home  proved  a  Bethel  to  many  souls.  Peace  to  the 
memory  of  that  sainted  household  I 

Our  Sunday  morning  love  feasts  during  the  revival 
were  seasons  of  great  power.  I  am  sure  that  the 
old  Israelites  were  never  more  overwhelmed  with 
the  presence  of  Jehovah,  when  his  train  filled  the 
temple  and  seraphs  flitted  through  the  space,  crying 
"Holy!  holy!  holy!"  than  we  felt  when  glory 
filled  that  crude  school  house  and  God  spake  to  us 
from  the  cloud. 

At  one  of  these  meetings,  two  women  who  were 
.strangers  to  the  congregation,  came  from  a  settle- 
jnent  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant.  They  reached  the 
place  before  the  love  feast  closed,  benumbed  by  cold, 
having  driven  that  distance  in  a  one  horse  sled, 
facing  a  sharp  December  wind,  over  a  heavy  road. 
They  could  scarcely  get  into  the  house,  they  were 
so  thoroughly  chilled.  I  learned  from  them  after 
the  love  feast  that  they  had  heard  of  the  revival 
and  were  anxious  to   attend.     So  their  husbands, 


God's    Worl'/nen  SiiccesffuL  I17 

who  could  not  leave  their  stock  all  day,  started  them 
off  about  daylight  to  the  meeting.     We  gave  them 
a  hearty  welcome,  exhorted  them  to  seek  the  Savior 
before  their  return,  and  they  entered  most  earnestly 
mto  the  spirit  of  the  meeting.     The  most  of  the 
congregation  remained  in  the  school  house  from  9 
o'clock  m   the   morning  until  3  in  the  afternoon, 
those  only  going  home  during  the  short  intermission, 
who  lived  near  the  school  house.     After  the  morn- 
ing sermon  we   had  a  speaking  service  for  about 
forty-five  minutes,  then  a  recess  of  fifteen  minutes 
tor  refr(3shments.     It  would  appear  odd  now  to  see 
a  large  audience  in  a  crowded  house,  all  eating  their 
luncheon  at  the  same  time.     The  capacious  work 
bags    of    the   women   were   not   easilv   exhausted. 
I  here  were   biscuits  and   butter,  doughnuts,   seed 
cakes     cheese,    etc.,    etc.      If    any    were    without 
refreshments,  they  were  supplied,  for,  as  in  the  Pen- 
tecost, we    had   "all    things  common."     The  two 
ladies  were  bountifully  supplied,  their  edibles  having 
been  frozen  on  the  way.     The  preachers  were  well 
cared  tor  on  such  occasions.     Something  extra  was 
always  provided  for  those  who  ministered  to  them 
m  spiritual  things.    In  the  meeting,  after  the  sermon, 
the  two  strangers  told  us  how  they  had  heard  of  the 
meeting  and  they  hungered  after^  God  ;  how  kindly 
heir  husbands  prepared  them  a  way  to  come,  and 
t^ey  were  anxious  to  be  saved.     Much  prayer  was 
offered  for  them,  in  which  they  vocally  joined,  and 
auring  the  afternoon  sermon  from  the  text :     "  Who 
are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud  and  as  doves  to  their 


118       Eeirdniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

windows,"  the  women  were  powerfully  converted. 
One  of  them,  springing  to  her  feet,  shouted,  "  Glory 
to  God!  He  has  blessed  me!  I  am  happy!"  I 
paused  and  told  her  to  teU  the  people  all  about  it. 
In  exultant  strains  she  described  "  the  light  from 
heaven,  brighter  than  a  thousand  sunbeams,  that  had 
•shined  into  her  heart,"  and  exhorted  all  to  come  to 
Christ.  She  laid  hold  of  her  neighbor  and  said: 
"  My  Jesus  will  save  you  too ; "  and  He  did,  for  while 
she  was  speaking,  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  her 
friend,  and  she  broke  out  in  rapturous  praise.  The 
Spirit  pervaded  the  whole  meeting ;  saints  shouted 
aloud  for  joy;  sinners  wept  and  trembled;  and  God 
triumphed  gloriously.  The  scenes  of  that  wonder- 
ful day  are  photographed  on  my  memory  and  pass 
like  a  panorama  now  before  my  mind.  The  women 
went  home  rejoicing,  and  their  husbands  came  back 
with  them  in  a  few  days  and  were  converted.  They 
opened  prayer  meetings  in  their  own  homes  and 
most  of  their  neighbors  were  converted.  "So, 
mightily  gTew  the  word  of  God  and  prevailed." 

Brother  K.  was  obliged  a  few  days  before,  to  go 
to  his  appointments,  and  sent  Brother  Phelps,  a  local 
preacher,  to  take  my  rounds.  The  work  went  on 
spreading  in  every  direction,  bringing  old  and  young, 
with  few  exceptions,  under  its  influence. 

An  old  miserly  man,  living  a  hermit  life  in  a  wild 
place  about  five  miles  from  the  place  of  the  meeting, 
had  not  attended.  I  visited  him  with  a  desire  to  win 
him  to  Christ.  He  received  me  rather  coolly  and 
was  not  inchned  to  be  communicative.     I  told  him 


*-iisai..»M'»fl*«©4ai„fiissi*s.^!aW«S*9(»8 


God's   Workmen  Successful.  119 

about  the  revival,  how  the  people  were  being  con- 
verted,  how  happy  religion  made  them  and  it  would 
do  the  same  for  him ;  he  was  lonelv  and  needed  the 
companionship  of  Christ,  who  was  readv  to  come 
mto  his  heart  and  make  him  happv.     I  prayed  with 
him,  commending  him  to  God  for  salvation  and  guid- 
ance.   As  I  left,  he  promised  to  attend  the  meeting 
that  night.      He  came,  to  the  amazement  of  the 
people.      He  made  a  grotesque  figure.      He  was  a 
rough,  burly  man,  clad  in  coarse,  unshapely  garments 
with  a  tall,  cone  like,  bearskin  cap  on  his  head,  and 
mocassins  made  from  untanned  skins,  on  his  feet    He 
came  to  the  "  mourners'  bench  "  a^   a  seeker,  and 
God  was  no  respecter  of  persons,  but  saved  him  as 
fully  as  He  did  his  more  polished  neighbors.     When 
saved,  he  told  the  same  sweet  story  of  Jesus  and  liis 
love.    He  went  home  a  regenerated  man,  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind.     He  had  never  been  known  to 
give  away  a  cent  in  his  life,  but  hoarded  his  money 
with  a  miser's  greed.     Soon  after  his  conversion  he 
resolved  to  give  the  minister  a  doUar,  and  before 
retiring,  took  a  silver  dollar  and  stuck  it  in  a  crack  in 
the  log  back  of  his  bunk,  so  as  not  to  forget  it  when 
he  went  to  meeting.     To  his  amazement,  in  the 
mommg  when  he  awoke,  he  found  two  doUars,  side 
by  side,  in  the  crack.    He  was  frightened  and  his 
superstitious  mind  suggested  that  a  spirit  had  placed 
the  other  there.     So  he  brought  them  both  to  me 
explaining  the  circumstance,  and  he  could  not  be 
prevailed  upon  to  retain  one  of  them.     He  insisted 
that  It  was  his  duty  to  gixe  his  dollar  and  he  had  no 


120       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

right  to  keep  the  Spirit's  gift.  I  reasoned  with  him 
that,  his  mind  being  so  intent  on  the  benevolent  act 
of  giving,  he  rose  in  his  sleep  and  put  the  other  dol- 
lar in  the  crack  without  waking.  But  I  could  not 
convince  him  and  was  obliged  to  receive  both  dollars. 
lie  was  faithful.  Eeligion  not  only  changed  his 
heart  but  also  his  outward  appearance,  for  he 
changed  his  savage  costume  for  a  more  civilized 
dress. 

In  going  to  the  meeting,  we  passed  the  residence 
of  a  well-to-do  farmer  who  had  no  sympathy  with 
the  work.  Indeed  he  was  a  bitter  opposer.  The 
brethren  often  called  for  him  to  accompany  them  to 
the  meeting  and  entreated  him  to  seek  his  soul's 
salvation.  But  he  was  angry  and  treated  them 
roughly.  About  a  week  before  the  meeting  closed,  I 
called  one  evening  on  my  way  to  church  and  talked 
plainly  and  earnestly  with  him ;  told  him  that  God 
said  in  his  Word  that  "  He  that  being  often  reproved, 
hardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed  and 
that  without  remedy;"  was  afraid  that  he  would 
grieve  away  the  Spirit  and  that  God  would  trouble 
him.  But  he  was  angry ;  demanded  to  be  let  alone, 
and  was  willing  to  take  the  consequences.  The  next 
day,  on  passing  his  house,  I  saw  him  start  for  the 
barn  ;  and  evidently  fearing  I  would  speak  to  him, 
instead  of  entering  through  the  bars  in  front,  he  went 
to  the  rear  and  climbed  over  a  high  log  wall  built  to 
protect  his  cattle.  The  heavy  top-log  rolled  off  with 
him,  falling  on  his  leg  and  fastening  him  to  the  spot. 
His  shrieks  brought  me  to  the  place  ;  and  there  lay 


GoiTs   Workmen  Successful, 


121 


a  large  maple  log  upon  his  limb,  and  I  was  unable  to 
move  it  or  extricate  him.     It  was  at  least  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  to  another  house,  and  the  men  had  gone  to 
meeting.     I  sent  to  the  school  house  for  help,  and  a 
company  of  men  came,  and  ^ith  rails  and  levers  got 
the  poor  man  out  and  carried  him  fainting  to  the 
house.     The  limb  was  crushed  from  the  knee  to  the 
ankle,  and  it  was  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  before  they 
could  get  a  doctor.     The  limb  was  frightfully  swollen 
and  it  was  agony  for  the  man  to  have  it  touched. 
At  his  request  I  was  sent  for  to  assist  in  the  opera- 
tion.    The  lion  was  now  tamed  and  was  meek  as  a 
lamb.     We  offered  a  prayer  and  then  went  to  work. 
His  screams  were  so  heartrending  that  few  could  stay 
in  the  house  except  those  who  were  really  needed. 
I  held  the  crushed  limb,  and  when  the  operation  was 
over,  my  coat  sleeve  and  under-garments  were  satura- 
ted \vith  blood.     O  how  the  poor  fellow  begged  for 
mercy  and  regretted  his  stubbornness  and  folly.     He 
never  recovered,  but  lingered  a  long  time  as  a  poor, 
suffering  invalid.      In  him  was  the  language  of  the 
wise  man  fulfilled.     "  And  thou  mourn  at  the  last 
when  thy  flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed,  and  say. 
How  have  I  hated  instruction,  and  my  heart  despised 
reproof ;  and  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  my  teach- 
ers, nor  inclined  mine  ear  to  them  that  instructed 
me." 


122      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  GALILEAN  CONQUERS. 


|OUNTED  on  Charlie  Black  I  rode,  one  day 
in  February,  1833,  against  a  strong  northwest 
storm,  about  twenty-five  miles.  It  took  me 
several  hours  to  make  the  distance,  owing  to  the 
blindino-  snow  and  drifted  roads.  When  I  reached 
the  house  of  Brother  Joel  Sprague,  at  Sprague's 
Comers,  I  was  so  chilled  and  benumbed  by  the  cold, 
that  I  had  to  be  assisted  from  the  saddle  and  into 
the  house.  The  kind  family  administered  to  my 
necessities  by  giving  me  reviving  cordials,  equalizing 
the  circulation  and  producing  a  healthful  action,  so 
that  before  meeting  time  I  was  myself  again.  As 
the  storm  did  not  abate,  Brother  Sprague  proposed 
to  go  to  the  school  house  and  inform  any  that  might 
come  that  there  would  be  no  meeting.  But  I  felt 
that  we  ought  to  keep  faith  with  God  and  the  peo- 
ple, both  in  storm  and  calm,  and  so  Brother  and  Sis- 
ter Sprague  and  myself  started,  and  though  it  was 
quite  a  walk  to  the  place  of  meeting  and  the  snow 
by  this  time  was  a  foot  deep,  yet  leaning  on  Brother 
Sprague's  strong  arm  I  got  through  safely  and  the 
exercise  was  just  what  I  needed,  as  it  produced  per- 


The  Galilean  Conquers. 


123 


spiration  and  threw  off  the  lethargy.     I  have  often 
gone  to  a  meeting  with  aching  head  and  burning 
fever  and  come  back  well.     A  pulpit  sweat  and  God's 
blessing  have  saved  me  from  many  a  fit  of  sickness. 
Only    one    oiher    hearer    came,    Brother    Isaac 
Sprague,  a  local  preacher,  and  a  brother  of  my  host ; 
a  man  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.     I  preached 
to  my  congregation  of  three,  on  the  words  of  David, 
*'Open  thy  mouth  wide  and  I  will  fill  it ;"  and  O, 
how  God  did  bless  us  with  a  pentecostal  shower ! 
The  local  preacher  fell  under  the  power  of  God ;  his 
brother,  who  had  been  living  beneath  his  privileges, 
was  gloriously  revived,  and  Sister  Sprague's  songs 
and  shouts  were  heard,  I  fully  believe,  in  Heaven. 
And  what  did  I  care  for  winter  storms  and  piercing 
blasts?      I  Avas  in  the  land  of  Beulah — the  n^y\ 
suburbs  of  Heaven.     We  appointed  a  meeting  for 
the  next  evening.     The  two  brethren  sent  their  chil- 
dren round  the  neighborhood  to  notify  Ihe  people, 
and  we  had  a  full  house  and  a  glorious  time.     The 
church  was  revived  and  some  souls  converted.     God 
has  always  honored  the  faith  of  the  preachers  in 
keeping  their  appointments  when  they  had  but  two 
or  three  to  hear  them.     I  have  preached  to  congre- 
gations of  from  ten  thousand  down  to  two  persons, 
and  have  been  as  much  blessed  among  the  twos  and 
threes  as  among  the  thousands,  and  have  often  known 
revivals  to  begin  with  the  few  and  spread  to  the 
many.     I  was  obliged  to  leave  after  the  second  meet- 
ing, but  Brother  Sprague  and  the  other  brethren 
went  on  with  the  meetings  and  had  a  grand  revival. 


12-lr       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

Brother  Isaac  Sprague  had  been  converted  three 
or  four  3'ears  previously  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Kev.  C.  Gr.  Finney.  His  experience,  as  I  have 
often  heard  him  relate  it,  was  unique  and  striking. 
He  was  a  farmer  with  a  young  family  growing  up 
around  him;  taught  school  winters  and  was  an  open 
advocate  of  Universalism,  ready  to  attack  any  one 
who  might  differ  from  him.  ''  No  hell,  no  devil," 
were  his  favorite  tenets.  Mr.  Finney  was  holding  a 
protracted  meeting  at  Gouverneur,  about  seven  miles 
distant,  and  moving  the  whole  country.  He  an- 
nounced at  one  time  that  he  would  preach  the  next 
evening  on  "  A  Personal  Devil "  and  tell  them  about 
that  great  Gouverneur  devil  who  was  so  active  in 
"  going  about  seeking  whom  he  might  devour."  Mr. 
Sprague,  with  some  of  his  companions,  attended  out 
of  curiosity.  On  the  way  to  the  meeting,  while 
descanting  on  his  hobby,  he  was  seized  with  an 
unaccountable  fear  lest  Mr.  Finney  should  get  him 
to  the  "•  anxious  seat."  He  endeavored  to  shake  it 
off,  but  the  more  he  strove  against  it  the  more  it 
increased  until  it  became  painful  and  embarrassing. 
His  agitation  became  so  great  that  his  hand  shook 
the  bridle,  and  fearing  that  his  companions  would 
notice  his  trepidation  he  let  them  ride  on,  whilst  he 
turned  into  a  thick  grove  by  the  wayside  and  prayed 
most  earnestly  to  the  devil  to  help  him  resist  the 
influence  of  the  evangelist.  But  all  in  vain.  Mr. 
Finney  tore  up  his  foundation,  refuted  his  error  and 
left  him  without  a  covering  from  the  storm.  O,  what 
fools  the  devil  will  often  make  of  his  servants !    Here 


The  Galilean  Conqvers. 


125 


was  a  man  claiming  that  he  did  not  b(3lieve  in  a  per- 
sonal devil,  yet  actually  bowing  before  liim  in  the 
grove  and  begging  him  to  keep  him  from  the  j)ower 
of  God's  truth. 

That  was  the  general  character  of  Universalism 
as  I  found  it  then.  It  was  seated  in  the  depravity  of 
the  heart  and  not  in  an  enlightened  judgment.  This 
man  went  home  from  that  meeting,  clearly  convinced 
of  his  errors,  and  never  rested  until  he  found  mercy. 
He  never  prayed  to  the  devil  again,  but  trusted  in 
one  "  who  is  mighty  to  save  and  strong  to  dehver." 

But  if  the  arch-enemy  could  not  shelter  his  faith- 
ful servant  from  the  shaft  of  truth,  as  hurled  by  this 
ambassador  of  Jesus,  he  stirred  up  a  company  of 
students  to  raise  the  devil  another  way.      After  the 
sermon  on  a   "personal  devil,"  they  took  an  old 
white  horse  from  the  hotel  barn,  the  property  of  a 
tin-peddler  who  had  put  up  in  the  village  for  the 
night ;  sheared  his  mane  and  tail,  singed  the  hair  on 
his  body  and  led  him  up  stairs  into  the  upper  storv 
of  the  Academy,  and  opened  a  front  window  ;  and 
when  the  citizens  arose  in  the  morning,  the  disfigured 
horse  stood  with  his  head  out  of  the  window,  neigh- 
ing anxiously  to  get  down.     They  called  one  of  tlie 
students  out  of  his  bed  to  see  the  frightful  thing,  and 
he  gave  it  as  his  deliberate  judgment,  that  ft  was 
Finney's  devil,  which  he  drove  from  the  church  the 
evening  before,  and  he  had  taken  refuge  in  the  Aca- 
demy.   It  was  with  difficulty  that  they  got  the  old 
horse  down,  and  it  was  never  found  out  who  put 
him  there. 


/ 


12<>       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circitit  Life. 

The  brethren  at  Pike's  School  House  were  anxious 
for  a  four  days'  meeting  at  their  place,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  revivals  in  the  other  parts  of  the  circuit, 
Brother  King  could  find  no  time  for  it  until  about 
the  first  of  June.  The  meeting  commenced  under 
unfavorable  circumstances  on  account  of  the  busy 
season  of  the  year.  It  was  our  custom  at  these 
meetings  to  hold  three  services  every  day.  The 
attendance  here  was  small  and  things  very  unpromis- 
ing. Our  membership  at  the  place  was  not  large, 
although  it  was  a  Sabbath  appointment.  Many  of 
the  people  were  skeptical  and  opposed  to  experimen- 
tal religion,  and,  as  we  learned  afterwards,  had 
resolved  not  to  attend  the  meeting.  It  was  a  profit- 
able time,  however,  to  Christians,  and  a  few  sinners 
were  converted.  But  the  meeting  fell  below  our 
expectations.  Having  learned  the  opposition  of  the 
community,  it  was  proposed  on  Sunday  afternoon  to 
test  the  power  of  united  prayer.  A  short  sermon  was 
preached  by  Brother  King  on  "  God  as  the  hearer 
and  answerer  of  prayer,"  which  was  followed  by  a 
prayer  meeting  that  lasted  over  two  hours.  It  was 
one  protracted  struggle— as  Jacob  wrestled  all  night 
at  the  ford  of  Jabok  with  the  angel  of  the  covenant. 
It  seemed  as  if  each  one  forgot  that  any  others  were 
present,  and  men  and  women,  each  face  to  face  with 
God,  held  him  with  a  grasp  of  faith  crying,  "  I  will 
not  let  thee  go."  We  closed  with  a  deep  conviction 
that  God  would  give  us  the  victory.  At  the  evening- 
meeting  the  attendance  was  better  but  not  large ;  we 
had  an  excellent  meeting  and  several  were  at  the 


T?ie  Galilean  Conquers. 


127 


"  mourner's  bench."     But  still  the  burden  of  prayer 
was  for  God  to  draw  the  people  to  his  house  that 
they  might  be  saved.     Amongst  the  seekers  were  a 
Mr.  Pike  and  his  wife  and  their  two  children,  one 
aged  twelve  and  the  other  fourteen  years.     The  little 
daughter  had  just  been  blessed  and  was  very  happy 
and  was  praying  for  her  mother  with  great  earnest- 
ness.    Just  at  that  moment  I  noticed  an  aged  couj^le 
enter  the  door,  and  stand  Avith  their  eyes  fixed  on  the 
praying  group  as  the  child  plead  so  pathetically.    The 
aged  woman  began  to  weep  and  tremble  violently. 
I  went  and  led  her  to  the  "  mourner's  bench,"  fol- 
lowed by  her  husband  who  was  also  deeply  affected. 
They  fell  on  their  knees  close  by  the  parents  and 
children,  who  were  too  much  engaged  to  notice  them. 
Soon  the  mother  was  converted  and  arose  to  give 
God  glory,  when  the  old  lady  cried  with  a  loud  voice : 
*'  O  God,  save  me,  too,  a  poor  old  sinner  I"     In  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  the  boy  and  girl  sprang  to  the 
aged  couple,  and  throwing  their  arms  around  their 
necks  cried :  "  O  grandpa,  how  happy  I  am,  God  has 
blessed  me !      O  grandma,  God  has  blessed  me,  Pm 
so  happy  !"    And  all  falling  ui3on  their  knees  togeth- 
er, the  grandparents,  the  parents  and  the  children 
prayed  most  fervently  for  mercy.      The  parents  and 
the  children   were  converted   that  night,  but   the 
grandparents  did  not  find  peace  until  the  next  night, 
though  they  continued  earnestly  to  seek.     IS'ear  the 
close  of  the  meeting,   the  grandfather,  over  sixty 
years  of  age,  arose  and  told  us  how  bitterly  they 
had  felt  towards  the  meeting,  and  had  agreed  with 


12^)       Reiininiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

The  brethren  at  Pike's  School  House  were  anxious 
for  a  four  days'  meeting  at  their  place,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  revivals  in  the  other  parts  of  the  circuit, 
Brother  King  could  find  no  time  for  it  until  about 
the  first  of  June.  The  meeting  commenced  under 
unfavorable  circumstances  on  account  of  the  busy 
season  of  the  year.  It  was  our  custom  at  these 
meetings  to  hold  three  services  every  day.  The 
attendance  here  was  small  and  things  very  unpromis- 
ing. Our  membership  at  the  place  was  not  large, 
although  it  was  a  Sabbath  appointment.  Many  of 
the  people  were  skeptical  and  opposed  to  experimen- 
tal religion,  and,  as  we  learned  afterwards,  had 
resolved  not  to  attend  the  meeting.  It  was  a  profit- 
able time,  however,  to  Christians,  and  a  few  sinners 
were  converted.  But  the  meeting  fell  below  our 
expectations.  Having  learned  the  opposition  of  the 
community,  it  was  proposed  on  Sunday  afternoon  to 
test  the  power  of  united  prayer.  A  short  sennon  was 
preached  by  Brother  King  on  "  God  as  the  hearer 
and  answerer  of  prayer,"  which  was  followed  by  a 
prayer  meeting  that  lasted  over  two  hours.  It  was 
one  protracted  struggle— as  Jacob  wrestled  all  night 
at  the  ford  of  Jabok  with  the  angel  of  the  covenant. 
It  seemed  as  if  each  one  forgot  that  any  others  were 
present,  and  men  and  women,  each  face  to  face  with 
God,  held  him  with  a  grasp  of  faith  crying,  "  I  will 
not  let  thee  go."  AYe  closed  with  a  deep  conviction 
that  God  would  give  us  the  victory.  At  the  evening- 
meeting  the  attendance  was  better  but  not  large ;  we 
had  an  excellent  meetino:  and  several  were  at  the 


The  Galilean  Conquers. 


127 


"  mourner's  bench."     But  still  the  burden  of  prayer 
was  for  God  to  draw  the  people  to  his  house  that 
they  might  be  saved.     Amongst  the  seekers  were  a 
Mr.  Pike  and  his  wife  and  their  two  children,  one 
aged  twelve  and  the  other  fourteen  years.     The  little 
daughter  had  just  been  blessed  and  was  very  happy 
and  was  praying  for  her  mother  with  great  earnest- 
ness.    Just  at  that  moment  I  noticed  an  aged  couple 
enter  the  door,  and  stand  with  their  eyes  fixed  on  the 
praying  group  as  the  child  plead  so  pathetically.    The 
aged  woman  began  to  weep  and  tremble  violently. 
I  went  and  led  her  to  the  "  mourner  s  bench,"  fol- 
lowed by  her  husband  who  was  also  deeply  affected. 
They  fell  on  their  knees  close  by  the  parents  and 
cliildren,  who  were  too  much  engaged  to  notice  them. 
Soon  the  mother  was  converted  and  arose  to  give 
God  glory,  when  the  old  lady  cried  with  a  loud  voice : 
"  O  God,  save  me,  too,  a  poor  old  sinner  I"    In  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  the  boy  and  girl  sprang  to  the 
aged  couple,  and  throwing  their  arms  around  their 
necks  cried :  "  O  grandpa,  how  happy  I  am,  God  has 
blessed  me !      O  grandma,  God  has  blessed  me,  I'm 
so  happy  !"     And  all  falling  u^n  their  knees  togeth- 
er, the  grandparents,  the  parents  and  the  children 
prayed  most  fervently  for  mercy.      The  parents  and 
the  children   were  converted   that  night,  but   the 
grandparents  did  not  find  peace  until  the  next  night, 
though  they  continued  earnestly  to  seek.    Xear  the 
close  of  the  meeting,   the  grandfather,  over  sixty 
years  of  age,  arose  and  told  us  how  bitterly  they 
had  felt  towards  the  meeting,  and  had  agreed  with 


I 


128       Reminiscences  of  Eai'ly  Circuit  Life. 


some  of  their  neighbors  not  to  attend ;  but  they  had 
spent  an  uncomfortable  Sabbath,  and  had  retired 
early  in  the  evening,  but  could  not  rest.  He  arose 
from  his  bed  and  sat  on  the  veranda,  and  his  wife 
soon  joined  him.  They  could  hear  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  singing  at  the  meeting.  The  old  gentle- 
man said  to  his  wife  that  as  he  could  not  sleep  he 
would  put  on  his  shoes  and  go  to  the  meeting.  She 
proposed  to  accompany  him.  As  they  came  in  at 
the  door  they  saw  their  children  and  grandchildren 
forward  for  prayers.  A  feeling  came  over  them  such 
as  they  had  never  realized  before,  and  they  were 
glad  to  bow  with  them  and  seek  the  same  Saviour. 
It  was  nearly  morning  before  we  could  bring  that 
meeting  to  a  close.  At  least  a  dozen  rose  that  night 
from  their  beds,  and  came  to  the  meeting  crying  for 
mercy.  Is  it  not  astonishing  that  Christians  who 
have  had  such  proofs  of  the  power  of  God  to  hear 
and  answer  prayer,  should  ever  doubt  our  unfailing 
Promiser  ? 

The  meeting  continued  a  few  days  longer  in  great 
power,  and  over  fifty  were  saved  by  grace.  On 
Monday  evening  following  that  memorable  Sunday 
night,  several  persons  came  forward  for  prayers, 
among  them  old  Mr.  Pike  and  wife,  with  their  happy 
children  and  grandchildren  to  pray  for  them.  Mr. 
Pike  had  a  brother  in  the  place  who  was  a  Baptist 
deacon.  He  was  a  good  sort  of  man  in  his  way,  but 
never  had  a  deep  experience,  and  knew  nothing 
about  a  burden  of  soul  for  the  salvation  of  others ; 
he  would    become    annoved    sometimes  with    the 


I: 

I?      '"' 


The  GaliUan  Conquers, 


129 
earnestness  of  the  worker^?  •  ix^ao  ^-ir 

Dnrm,,  +u  "•         ""lael  brother  and  family 

iJuring  the  meeting  Monday  evening,    while  hi ^ 

brother  was  in  great  distress  for  his  sin."  thl  h 

was  called  on  to  lead  in  praver  wl  c    hi  I!  "" 

to  do,  but  broke  down  i'n  Te  'effort     late  ^P^ 

on  the  .fors  izz  :;rhi:Catr  ^: 

him  _       Well,  deacon,  you  have  been  a  good  ^hol 

h«l  all  wi  coi  do  rZ.  LT2f  "r  ""  "' 
in.  sted  ,1,,,  he  ,a.  „„t  read,  to  meet  kl,  J„d» 

.l."g,  so  I  Mped  l,i„  tj  .  ,^  ti:'^:,S. 


0 


|! 


130       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

side,  and  there  the  old  infidel  brother  and  the  gray 
haired  deacon,  plead,  side  by  side,  for  the  salvation  of 
their  souls.  We  all  joined  them  in  the  earnest  strug- 
gle, and  for  more  than  an  hour  "  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  suffered  violence ;  and  the  violent  took  it  by 
force."  God  brought  them  into  the  glorious  liberty 
of  the  sons  of  God.  There  were  the  now  happy  dea- 
con, the  once  infidel  brother  and  his  wife,  their  chil- 
dren and  children's  children,  and  several  others,  all 
rejoicing  in  the  warmth  of  their  "  first  love."  My 
beloved  deacon  forgot  all  about  the  "still,  small 
voice"  and  made  that  old  stone  school  house  ring 
with  his  shouts  of  praise.  How  gloriously  the  love 
of  God  shed  abroad  in  the  heart  will  annihilate  all 
pet  notions,  and  bring  Baptists  and  Methodists  and 
all  saved  sinners  into  the  same  free  and  happy  spirit. 
Eide  on  Thou  conquering  Christ,  until  there  "  shall 
be  one  fold  and  one  Shepherd." 

After  this  the  Baptists,  who  held  their  meeting  at 
the  Steele  school  house,  became  so  noisy  in  their 
meetings  as  to  outstrip  the  Methodists,  making  them 
a  babel  of  confusion.  They  had  a  pastor  who  was 
evidently  a  devoted  Christian,  but,  I  think,  the  most 
boisterous  and  extravagant  man  I  ever  met.  He 
would  rant  and  foam,  stamp  and  vociferate  and 
scream,  until  the  voice  would  become  incoherent  and 
he  was  obliged  to  cease  through  sheer  exhaustion. 
The  most  demonstrative  Methodists  could  not  work 
\\\\h  him,  as  he  went  bevond  their  ideas  of  Christian 
decorum.  The  zeal  of  the  man  ate  him  up,  for 
he  found  an  early  grave.     I  have  always  found  that 


The  Galilean  Conquers,  131 

when  our  brethren  of  other  denominations  get 
beyond  their  orderly  metho<ls,  they  drift  into  the 
THdest  fanaticism  and  extravagance.  They  cannot 
control  a  storm,  while  a  Methodist  minister  will 
bring  order  out  of  confusion  and  quiet  the  tempest 
to  a  calm.  ^ 

Some  of  our  own  people  evidently  think  that  the 
early  Methodists  were  a  turbulent,  fanatical  class, 
dehghtmg  in  extravagance  and  cultivating  a  boister- 
ous manner.    But  such  was  not  the  case.    True  hke 
the  prophet  Ezekiel,  they  would  stam,,  with  their 
feet  and  smite  with  thejr  hands  to  show  the  people 
their  transgressions ;  and  at  the  "  mournere'  bench  » 
when  penitents  cried,  in  the  agony  of  men  sinking 
mto  heU  for  mercy,  every  praying  man,  in  the  inten 
sity  of  his  soul,  forgetting  his  surroundings,  would 
plead  face  to  face  with  God  for  the  "mourne,^"  as 
It  he  was  the  only  one  to  grasp  the  attributes  of 
iTod,  and  many  voices  urged  the  faith  cry.     It  was 
to  God  as  If  an  hundred  closets  offered  the  same 
petitions     These  united  prayers  prevailed  with  Him 
and  as  He  touched  the  cords  of    these  contrite, 
behevmg  hearts,  awakening  the  melody  of  pardon 
how  the  tnumphant  songs  of  victorious  Israel  and 
rapturous  converts  rose  in  delightful  harmony  to  the 
throne  of  God!    And  what  if  bursting  hallelujahs 
died  through  the  house '.    It  was  just  what  angels 
did  when  Gabriel  announced  to  the  shepherds  "a 
Saviour  born,"  «a  multitude  of  tiie  heavenly  host 
sang  glory  to  God  in  the  highest."    But  our  church 
has  never  cultivated  noisy  demonstrations  as  a  habit 


;,.i 


1.1 


132       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

nor  steadied  the  ark  of  God  when  moving  at  His 
order,  but  have  followed  the  leadings  of  His  spirit 
as  they  worshiped,  "  decently  and  in  order." 

The  society  at  Gouverneur  was  small  and  none  of 
the  members  were  wealthy,  but  it  was  full  of  life 
and  energy.     Brother  King  lived  in  the  suburbs  of 
the  village,  had  five  or  six  children  in  his  family, 
and  was  very  poor.     It  was  difficult  sometimes  to 
keep  the  wolf  from  the  door.     The  circuit  was  weak 
and   our  support  meager.     I   carried  everything  I 
received  on  my  salary  to  the  parsonage,  except  my 
clothing,  and  did  all  in  my  power  to  keep  them  from 
suffering.     Took  everything  people  offered  me,  salt 
pork,  corned  beef,  butter,  lard,  eggs,  wheat,  corn, 
rye,  oats,  etc.     The  grain  I  carried  in  bags  thrown 
across  my  saddle,  and  the  other  tilings  in  my  capa- 
cious saddle  bags ;  each  side  would  hold  at  least  a 
half  bushel,  and  on  my  montlily  rounds  to  that  part 
of  the  circuit,  *'  Charlie  Black  "  would  sometimes  be 
pretty  well  loaded,  more  in  bulk  and  weight  than  in 
value.     I  always  found  them  with  a  scanty  supply 
of  the  necessaries  of  life.     My  coming  was  hailed 
with  delight.    After  depositing  my  '^quarterage" 
and  enjoying  a  short  visit  with  the  family,  I  usually 
rode  to  the  Smith  neighborhood,  and  put  up  with 
one  of  the  families  there,  rather  than  in  any  measure 
aid  in  reducing  their  scanty  supplies  at  the  parson- 
age.    Sister  King  was  a  cheery,  courageous  little 
woman,  consecrated  to  God  and  his  service,  willmg 
to  bear  the  cross,  despise  the  shame  and  reproach  of 
poverty  for  Christ's  sake,  to  struggle  with  her  family 


T?te  Galilean  Comjuers. 


133 


in  want  and  suffering  and  prayer,  while  her  husband 
braved  the  storms  and  endured  the  hardships  of  the 
itinerancy  to  bring  lost  men  to  God.  We  often  think 
of  the  trials  and  privations  of  these  early  circuit 
riders  witJi  deep  sympathy,  and  admire  their  per- 
severance and  courage,  but  seldom  give  a  thought  to 
the  noble  women  who  suffered  with  them,  spending 
their  days  in  loneliness  and  want,  living  often  in 
poor  tenements,  on  coarse  and  scanty  fare,  struggling 
with  i)rivations  and  sufferings  without  a  murmur,  in 
watchings,  in  fastings,  and  in  earnest  supplications 
that  their  husbands  might  be  successful  in  preaching 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  a  perishing  world.  Our 
great  Church,  now  spreading  in  every  direction,  and 
enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  Christendom, 
owes  these  heroines  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  their 
devotion  and  efficiency  in  estabhshing  our  Zion,  and 
making  her  a  praise  in  the  earth.  Peace  to  the 
memory  of  Mrs.  Harriet  King ;  though  remembered 
by  but  few  on  earth  she  is  honored  by  the  countless 
multitudes  of  heaven. 

Brother  King  had  arranged  that  we  should  attend 
a  camp  meeting,  in  the  town  of  Hammond,  in  the 
summer  of  1833.  I  was  to  report  at  his  house  early 
in  the  morning,  but  wiien  I  reached  the  place,  his 
potatoes  must  be  hoed  before  starting,  so  we  took  off 
our  coats  and  vests  and  went  at  it  with  a  will, 
laboring  under  great  disadvantages.  There  was 
nothing  in  the  house  to  eat — not  even  a  crust  of 
bread  or  a  potato.  One  of  the  stewards  had  pro- 
mised to  bring  supplies  for  the  family  during  our 


¥ 


F 


134      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circidt  Life. 

absence,  but  had  neglected  it,  so  we  hoed  all  day 
without  a  morsel  of  food,  except  a  pan  of  milk  for 
a  family  of  eight,  five  of  them  hungry  children. 
We  finished  the  hoeing  a  little  before  sun  down,  and 
as  the  steward  did  not  make  his  appearance  Brother 
King  and  myself  examined  our  purses  to  see  what 
money  we  possessed.  He  found  twelve  cents  and  I, 
beinf?  in  better  circumstances,  found  twenty-five. 
There  were  two  toll  gates  on  the  way  and  it  would 
require  twelve  cents  to  pay  our  toll  both  ways.  So 
Brother  King  went  to  the  grist  mill  and  bought 
twenty-five  cents  worth  of  corn  meal  and  we  had 
"  se-pawn  "  and  milk  for  supper  and  ''  Johnnie  cake" 
for  breakfast. 

Their  son  John  was  to  walk  three  miles  the  next 
day  to  see  the  steward  and  stir  up  his  pure  mind  by 
way  of  remembrance. 

We  reached  the  camp  ground  next  evening  and 
found  the  people  putting  up  their  tents  and  making 
themselves  comfortable  for  the  night.  The  ground 
was  in  a  dense  wood,  on  a  gentle  slope,  with  the 
surface  rather  uneven.  The  stand  was  made  of 
rough  boards  and  nothing  imposing  in  appearance. 
The  stringers  were  logs,  and  the  seats  unbarked 
slabs  from  the  saw  mill.  There  were  a  few  rough 
board  tents,  but  they  were  chiefly  made  of  factory 
cloth,  and  were  a  poor  protection  against  the  rain. 
But  this  was  God's  house  for  the  week,  and  to  manv 
it  proved  the  gate  of  heaven. 

Here  I  met  for  the  first  time  Eev.  Arza  J.  Phelps. 
He  was  a  young  man,    just  married,   and   junior 


The  Galilean  Comiuers. 


135 


preacher  on  that  circuit.  I  distinctly  remember  the 
text  on  which  he  preached  at  that  meeting,  and  his 
method  of  treating  it.  It  was  the  prayer  of  David : 
"  Let  my  soul  hve."  I  Httle  thought  our  lives  were 
to  run  parallel  for  forty-seven  years— <3ultivating  the 
same  fields,  engaged  in  the  same  conflicts,  strifes  and 
victories ;  or  that  he  was  to  outstrip  me  in  the  race 
and  be  first  to  exchange  the  cross  for  the  crown. 
But  "  he  fought  the  good  fight,  finished  his  course, 
kept  the  faith,"  and  has  won  the  ^' crown,"  He 
sleeps  with  honor.  The  meeting  commenced  in  the 
spirit,  progressed  with  power,  and  closed  in  a  blaze 
of  glorv^  Many  were  converted  and  some  of  Grod's 
dear  people  entered  into  the  rest  of  perfect  love. 

Brother  King  and  myself  were  invited  to  enjoy 
the  hospitality  of  the  owner  of  the  ground  who 
lived  near  the  grove.  Mr.  B.  professed  to  be  a  deist 
and  was  indifferent  to  religion,  but  he  got  more  than 
he  bargained  for ;  his  conscience  was  quickened  by 
the  light  as  it  shone  in  upon  his  dark  soul.  He 
would  weep  and  tremble  in  family  prayers  and  toss 
at  night  upon  an  uneasy  pillow,  but  would  not  yield 
to  God.  His  wife  was  converted,  and  became  a 
useful  member  of  the  church.  Many  went  out  from 
that  meeting  new  creatures.  They  came  to  it  in  the 
service  of  sin,  but  went  out  into  the  world  again 
clad  in  the  panoply  of  the  Gospel,  to  battle  against 
sin,  to  gather  men  to  Christ  and  win  crowns  of  life. 
On  returning  to  the  parsonage  we  found  the  steward 
had  failed  to  furnish  supplies,  and  the  family  had 
subsisted  on  scanty  fare.    But  Sister  King  met  us 


136       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

with  Christian  cheerfulness,  heroic  woman  that  she 
was,  and  rejoiced  and  wept  alternately  as  we  related 
the  struggles  and  triumphs  and  pentecostal  blessings 
in  the  tented  grove.  I  could  not  rested  that  night 
until  I  rode  out  into  the  country,  among  the  breth- 
ren, and  gathered  food  for  the  needy  family.  There 
was  one  family  living  about  two  miles  from  the  vil- 
lage who  might  have  made  them  comfortable  with- 
out feehng  it,  but  they  were  parsimonious  and  had 
never  learned  the  blessedness  of  benevolence.  I 
called  on  them  and  preached  them  a  little  sermon 
with  point  and  application  which  they  never  forgot. 
It  offended  them  very  much,  and  might  have  cooled 
the  warm  love  they  professed  for  me  if  a  circum- 
stance had  not  occurred  the  next  day  to  convince 
them  that  God  was  more  grieved  with  their  neglect 
of  the  pastor's  family  than  the  young  preacher  was. 
In  a  hen's  nest  in  the  barn  was  found  a  well  devel- 
oped Qg^  with  the  words:  "Woe,  woe  to  the 
covetous,"  and  another  the  following  day  with  the 
Scripture  sentence  upon  it:  " Covetousness  which 
is  idolatry."  The  letters  were  embossed  on  the 
shell,  perfectly  distinct.  There  they  were  in  bold 
relief — a  solemn  warning  from  heaven.  The  family 
were  greatly  frightened.  They  consulted  an  intelli- 
gent neighbor  who  was  not  a  member  of  our  church, 
though  a  Christian  man.  He  looked  upon  it  as  a 
divine  admonition,  and  they  thought  that  if  both 
the  jyreacher  and  the  hen  were  sent  to  warn  them  it 
was  time  for  them  to  reform  lest  a  worse  thing 
should  befall  them.    They  began  at  once  to  cultivate 


The  Galilean  Conqxiers, 


137 


the  grace  of  benevolence,  and  not  only  escaped  the 
dreaded  '^  woe  "  of  the  ^gg  sheU,  but  having  learned 
''that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive" 
they  continued  in  the  "  more  excellent  way."  I  met 
their  good  neighbor  a  few  weeks  subsequently,  going 
out  of  meeting  in  a  crowd,  and  in  a  low  whisper 
asked  him  how  much  \itriol  and  tallow  it  took  to 
give  heaven's  warning  by  an  egg  ?  His  arch  smile 
and  significant  nod  convinced  me  that  I  had  rightly 
guessed  the  human  instrumentality. 


V 


138      Rerainiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTEE  X. 


THE  TWO-EDGED  SWORD ITS  POINT  AND  POWER. 

(^OOX  after  the  Hammond  camp-meeting,  I  was 
]^  invited  by  our  Baptist  brethren  to  join  them  in 
a  protracted  meeting.  They  were  to  have  Elder 
W.,  one  of  their  strongest  preachers,  to  take  charge 
of  it,  but  very  much  wished  me  to  unite  with  them 
and  preach  alternately  with  him.  I  had  been  feel- 
ing the  importance  of  more  union  among  the  denomi- 
nations and  w-as  glad  to  meet  them  more  than  half 
way.  They  were  very  urgent  and  proposed  that  if  I 
would  participate  in  the  meeting  there  should  be 
nothing  said  to  the  converts  about  baptism  or  joining 
the  church  until  the  close  of  the  meeting,  when  we 
would  appoint  a  day  and  each  of  us  should  explain 
our  doctrines  and  church  polity  and  ask  the  converts 
who  wished  to  join  the  Baptists  to  take  one  side  of 
the  church  and  those  who  preferred  the  Methodists 
to  take  the  other,  and  there  should  be  no  proselyting. 
I  frankly  told  them  that  as  we  had  no  society  in 
the  place,  only  a  few  members  who  attended  at  an 
appointment  about  three  miles  distant,  that  we  did 
not  care  to  form  another.  As  they  insisted  upon  my 
coming,  I  consulted  Brother  King,  who  doubted  the 
success  of  the  plan  but  thought  as  they  were  so  anxi- 


The  Two-Edged  Siom^d. 


139 


ous  about  it  ^perha^s  it  would  unite  the  two  churches 
more  closely  so  that  they  could  work  better  side  by 
side  in  the  future.     Arrangements  were  made  to  sup- 
ply my  work.     The  meeting  began  and  went  on 
steadily  with  good  prospects  of  success.     They  made 
a  great  rally;  sometimes   four  of    their  ministers 
would  be  in  attendance,  visiting  from  house  to  house 
and  laboring  in  the  interest  of  the  meeting.     The 
members  of  our  church  in  the  place,  opened  their 
houses  to  entertain  those  who  came  from  a  distance 
to  attend  the   meeting ;  took  hold  by  prayer  and 
exhortation  to  advance  the  work.      Several  of  our 
devoted  workers  from  the  appointments  adjoining, 
gave  their  time  and  service  to  the  meeting  and  effi- 
ciently aided  the  work.     The  meeting  continued  for 
nearlv  two  weeks  and  about  fortv  were  converted. 
Everything  moved  on  hannoniously  and  sectarianism 
was  at  a  discount.    As  the  meeting  drew  to  a  close, 
Thursday  afternoon  was  appointed  in  which  to  ex- 
plain the  doctrines  and  divide  the  converts.     I  was 
called  away  to  attend  the  funeral  of  a  prominent 
man  in  another  part  of  the  circuit,  which  would  take 
me  from  the   meeting   Wednesday  and   Thursday 
forenoon.     In  the  Tuesday  evening  meeting  some  of 
the  leading  converts  expressed  much  regret  that  I 
must  be  absent.     This  suggested  to  the  pastor  and 
others,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  that  there  might  be 
some  who  would  want  to  join  the  Methodists,  tliough 
he  had  thought  that  as  we  had  no  society  in  the 
place,  the  converts  would  naturally  unit«  with  them. 
After  I  left  they  went  to  work  doctrinizing  them 


140       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

and  going  from  house  to  house  to  show  them  that 
having  believed  they  must  now  be  baptized  and 
teaching  them  that  immersion  was  the  only  mode. 
They  appointed  the  Thursday  morning  meeting  to 
hear  the  experience  of  the  converts  and  baptize  them, 
assigning  as  a  reason  that  Elder  W.  must  leave  at 
noon.  They  got  seven  to  join  them— four  mere  chil- 
dren and  three  adult  persons  from  Baptist  families. 
I  returned  about  1  o'clock,  and  to  my  great  chagrin 
found  the  community  excited.  All  the  ministers  had 
left,  even  the  pastor  it  was  said,  was  tired  out  and 
had  gone  for  a  little  rest.  An  appointment  was  left 
for  me  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I  felt  very 
much  grieved  but  preached  a  practical  and  experi- 
mental sermon  on  the  text,  "  We  know  that  we  have 
passed  from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love  the 
brethren."  I  made  no  reference  to  the  state  of  affairs 
until  the  close,  then  referred  to  the  unfairness  of  the 
proceedings,  and  said  as  I  wished  to  do  everything 
fairly  and  openly  I  would  not  explain  our  doctrine 
or  open  the  doors  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
m  the  absence  of  the  pastor  and  leading  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  A  gentleman  present  (one  of 
the  converts),  said  that  the  converts  disapproved  of 
the  course  that  was  pursued  in  my  absence;  had 
talked  it  over  and  if  I  could  give  them  an  opportu- 
nity many  of  them  would  like  to  unite  with  us.  I 
said  that  if  they  wished  to  join  the  Methodists  they 
could  have  an  opportunity  at  my  appointment,  three 
miles  distant,  the  next  Sabbath  afternoon.  They 
came  over  and   we  received  about  twenty,  mostly 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


141 


heads  of  families,  and  others  joined  subsequentlv. 
My  good  Baptist  brethren  made  a  mistake  for  them- 
selves ;  if  they  had  carried  out  their  own  plan  I  am 
confident  they  would  have  shared  more  fully  in  the 
fruits  of  the  meeting  and  strengthened  their  church, 
which  was  greatly  needed. 

Emigration  to  the  west  was  exciting  an  interest 
among  the  people  of  this  State  at  that  time  and  St. 
Lawrence  County  was  no  exception  to  the  agitation. 
A  colony  was  formed  consisting  of  forty  families  to 
settle  on  a  tract  of  land  which  they  had  purchased, 
I  think,  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  Thev  were  Christ- 
ian  families,  belonging  to  the  Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  churches,  mostly  to  the  former,  and  were 
generally  substantial  farmers.  The  families  averaged 
five  in  number,  including  hired  help,  and  aggregated 
a  little  over  two  hundred  persons.  They  took  their 
own  mechanics  and  all  the  implements  of  husbandry 
with  them.  They  were  from  Gouverneur  and  con- 
tiguous towns.  In  casting  about  for  a  pastor  they 
united  on  me  and  gave  me  a  unanimous  call,  offering 
me  six  times  the  salar^^  I  was  then  receiving,  and 
obligating  themselves  to  pay  it  promptly.  I  was  to 
continue  with  them  five  years  and  asjmuch  longer  as 
we  could  agree.  I  was  to  remain  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, preaching  the  same  doctrines  and  carrying  out 
our  usages  as  far  as  I  could  in  such  a  community. 
But  it  had  no  attraction  for  me.  I  had  not  entered 
the  ministry  for  money  or  ease — loved  the  itinerancy, 
it  had  a  charm  for  me  and  no  inducement  could  draw 
me  from  it.     I  could  reach  more  souls  on  my  large 


142       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

circuit  than  I  could  to  be  settled  in  a  local  congrega- 
tion. So  thanking  them  for  their  kindness  and 
confidence  I  respectfully  declined.  They  took  with 
them  a  Presbyterian  minister  who  was  looking  for  a 
place.  I  was  strongly  attached  to  the  Methodist 
families  in  the  colony  but  felt  that  God  had  called 
me  to  go  in  search  of  the  lost  sheep. 

It  has  always  surjirised  me  to  see,  now  and  then, 
a  man  among  us  ready  to  change  his  church  rela- 
tions in  order  to  better  his  circumstances.  I  have 
had  strong  inducements  at  different  times  to  change 
my  field  of  labor,  but  never  for  a  moment  felt 
inclined  to  yield  to  the  temptation.  I  thank  God 
that  he  called  me  into  the  Methodist  ministrv,  and 
although  I  have  been  an  unworthy  minister,  yet  I 
have  been  happy  in  my  work  and  made  it  thus  far 
my  only  business  to  cry,  "  Behold  the  Lamb." 

The  making  up  of  the  colony  weakened  our 
already  feeble  society  in  Gouverneur,  and  rendered 
it  more  difficult  to  keep  up  preaching  in  the  village, 
but  it  was  our  business  to  seek  the  people  and  not 
wait  for  them  to  seek  us.  It  Avas  the  glory  of 
Methodism  to  call  sinners  to  repentance  and  not 
wait  for  them  to  call  us  to  become  their  pastors. 
So  we  renewed  our  efforts  to  bring  men  to  Christ 
and  then  build  up  the  church.  We  held  a  meeting 
in  the  old  academy,  which  we  hired  as  a  preaching 
place.  We  had  strong  opposition,  but  God  gave  hs 
the  victory,  for  in  one  week's  effort  we  gained  more 
in  numbers  and  strength  than  we  had  lost  by  the 
emigration.     This  meeting  overcame  much  of  the 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


143 


prejudice  that  existed  in  that  town  against  the 
Methodists,  convincing  them  of  our  orthodoxy  in 
the  essential  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  that  we 
were  more  clear  and  careful  in  the  conversion  of 
souls  than  they  were  accustomed  to.  As  one  of  the 
Presbyterians  said  :  "  The  Methodists  are  as  earnest 
and  evangelical  as  Mr.  Finney  (who  was  their  model 
preacher  in  that  town),  and  require  a  more  clear  and 
distinct  experience,  not  only  insisting  upon  *  sub- 
mission to  God,'  but  also  upon  a  radical  conversion 
and  the  '  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit.' "  We  were 
invited  into  the  Presbvterian  Church  the  last  two 
days  of  the  meeting,  and  a  delightful  fraternal  spirit 
prevailed. 

When  I  left  Fort  Covington  Academy,  at  the 
request  of  Elder  Chase,  to  supply  a  vacancy  in 
Parishville  circuit,  it  was  with  a  distinct  understand- 
ing that  I  was  to  return  in  six  weeks  to  resume  my 
studies ;  but  at  the  termination  of  that  period  I  was 
in  the  midst  of  a  great  revival,  and  it  was  urged 
that  souls  might  perish  if  I  left,  so  I  remained  six 
weeks  longer.  At  the  close  of  this  time  the  work 
had  increased  and  it  was  still  more  difficult  to  leave. 
By  the  advice  of  my  presiding  elder  I  went  home, 
settled  up  my  affairs,  and  returned  to  the  circuit  to 
finish  up  the  year.  At  the  close  of  the  year  it  was 
my  purpose  to  resume  my  studies,  but  the  preachers 
urged  that  duty  required  me  to  continue  in  the  work, 
and  I  had  such  reverence  for  God's  ministers  that 
whatever  they  advised  I  thought  I  must  perform, 
and  so  I  went  to  Gouverneur  circuit,  as  related  in  a 


144      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

former  chapter.  This  was  a  year  of  great  revival, 
and  I  was  happy  in  my  work.  But  as  the  ecclesias- 
tical year  drew  to  a  close,  my  old  longing  for  a 
thorough  education  returned  and  I  felt  that  I  must 
break  away  from  circuit  work  and  enter  school 
again.  Fearing  the  influence  of  my  brethren  upon 
me  if  I  consulted  them,  I  resolved  to  act  on  mv  own 
judgment.  After  making  it  a  subject  of  prayer,  by 
which  the  con\iction  was  strengthened,  I  sold  mv 
horse  and  saddle,  engaged  a  boarding  place,  and 
made  arrangements  to  enter  Gouverneur  Academv 
immediately  at  the  close  of  the  year.  The  societv 
proposed  to  pay  my  board  and  tuition,  and  I  was  to 
preach  for  them  each  alternate  Sabbath  during  the 
vear. 

At  our  last  quarterly  meeting,  four  or  five  preach- 
ers came  on  Saturday  to  see  the  elder  on  church 
business.  They  held  a  consultation  on  my  case  and 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  my  duty  to  con- 
tinue in  the  work ;  besides,  the  quarterly  conference 
thought  it  would  work  unfavorably  for  me  to  leave, 
as  I  could  help  the  converts  more  than  a  stranger. 
Brother  K.'s  constitutional  time  was  out,  and  if  we 
both  left  after  a  general  revival  the  effect  would  be 
injurious.  I  insisted  that  having  made  it  a  subject 
of  prayer,  it  seemed  to  me  a  duty  to  resume  my 
studies,  and  Providence  had  opened  my  way  by 
enabhng  me  to  sell  my  horse  and  make  favorable 
arrangements  to  pay  my  way  at  school.  But  the 
preachers  urged  that  while  getting  knowledge  was 
a  good  thing,  saving  souls  was  better ;  that  many 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


145 


would  be  lost  if  I  left  the  work,  who  might  be  saved 
if  I  continued.  I  had  sold  my  horse  and  saddle  to 
one  of  the  official  members,  and  he  arose  in  the 
quarterly  conference  and  said  tliat  he  would  o-ive 
them  up,  because  he  thought  I  ought  to  continue  in 
the  work.  I  was  conquered,  but  not  convinced.  I 
have  always  since  regretted  that  I  did  not  act  on  my 
own  judgment,  but  I  thought  it  would  be  wrong  to 
set  up  my  will  against  the  godly  judgment  of  *my 
brethren.  So  I  was  recommended  to  the  Oneida 
annual  conference,  to  be  held  in  Auburn ;  received  on 
probation,  and  reappointed  to  Gouverneur,  with  Rev. 
G.  C.  AVoodruff  as  preacher  in  charge. 

Brother  W.  was  a  talented  and  ix)pular  vouno- 
man,  a  good  preacher,  an  excellent  administrator  ol 
discipline,  and  just  the  man  needed  to  give  order 
to  the  work  after  a  great  revival.     His  wife  was 
an  estimable  woman,  cultured,  devoted,   and   well 
adapted  to  her  position.     She  was  an  old  schoolmate 
of  mine ;  we  were  brought  up  in  the  same  place, 
had  been  members  of  the  same  church,  attended 
the  same  class  and  prayer  meetings,  and  she  was  to 
me  like  an  older  sister.     It  was  very  pleasant  to  be 
now  associated  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.     The 
circuit  was  made  smaller  by  setting  off  some  of  the 
appointments  to  another  charge. 

The  quarterly  conference  thoughtfully  and  very 
kindly  hired  my  board  in  the  family  of  my  colleague 
at  Gouverneur  during  my  "  rest  week,"  and  when  in 
that  part  of  the  circuit,  that  I  might  have  a  better 

opportunity  for  study.     Everv  official  member  but 

10     ' 


i 


146      Reniiniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

one  voted  for  this,  and  he  insisted  that  it  would  be 
cheaper  for  them  to  have  me  board  around  among 
them.  I  mischievously  stated  that  Brother  S.'s  part 
would  be  about  two  weeks'  board  in  the  year,  as  he 
was  in  much  better  circumstances  than  any  other 
member  in  the  circuit,  and  if  they  would  excuse  him 
from  paying  his  part  of  my  board  I  would  spend  a 
fortnight  in  his  family.  To  this  they  readily  agreed, 
and  at  a  proper  time  of  the  year  I  said  to  Sister 
Woodruff  that  she  need  not  do  any  washing  or 
mendmg  for  me  for  two  weeks,  as  I  was  going  to 
spend  that  time  at  Brother  S.'s,  and  would  take  my 
washing  and  mending  with  me.  Reported  myself 
on  Saturday  morning  to  the  family  as  a  boarder; 
told  mv  host  that  I  alwavs  took  care  of  "  Charlie 
Black"  mvself,  and  if  he  would  show  me  the  oat 
bin  I  would  relieve  him  from  the  care  of  the  horse. 
He  said  that  he  fed  his  horses  potatoes  most  of  the 
time,  as  he  had  plenty  of  them  and  there  was  no 
market  for  them.  I  thanked  him  for  the  suggestion, 
said  that  my  horse  had  been  losing  flesh  lately  and 
I  had  been  looking  forward  to  the  "  rest  week  "  as  a 
good  time  to  fat  him  up,  and  I  would  feed  twelve 
quarts  of  oats  per  day  and  what  potatoes  he  would 
eat,  and  I  thought  one  would  prevent  the  other  from 
hurting  him.  This  was  not  just  what  he  wanted, 
but  he  had  the  fear  of  the  solemn  warning  he  had 
received  by  the  ^gg^  as  before  related,  and  made  no 
strong  opposition. 

I  spent  two  very  pleasant  weeks  with  them;  Sister 
S.  gave  me  a  mother's  care  and  I  formed  a  strong 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


147 


attachment  to  the  family,  which  continued  until  God 
called  them  home.     I  feel  sure  that  if  I  am  so  happy 
as  to  enter  the  pearly  gates.  Brother  and  Sister  S. 
will  be  among  the  shining  ones  to  give  me  welcome. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  year  we  held  a  four  days' 
meeting  at  Portf erry,  in  the  south  part  of  the  circuit. 
Religion  at  this  appointment  was  very  low ;  while 
nearly  every  other  point  on  the  charge  was  enjoying 
seasons  of  refreshing,  this  place,  like  Gideon's  fleece, 
was  dry  and  dewless.     The  society  was  strong  in 
numbers  and  respectability,  but  alienated   in  spirit 
and  action.   Jealousy  and  bickerings  prevailed  among 
the  members ;  what  one  did,  another  opposed,  and 
Satan  reveled  among  them.      The  social  meetings 
had  declined,  but  the  preacliing  services  were  well 
attended.     Every  one  felt  that  lie  had  a  friend  in  tlie 
preacher  and  looked  to  him  for  counsel.    The  preach- 
er's word  in  that  day  was  law  and  his  advice  carried 
weight.     We  had  failed,  however,  to  unite  the  mem- 
bers here  and  bring  them  into  friendly  relations. 

We  appointed  the  meeting  as  a  dernier  resort ;  if 
that  should  fail,  then  the  discipline  must  be  enforced. 
It  was  the  practice  of  that  day  to  settle  difficulties 
in  the  church  promptly,  and  if  a  coolness  or  open 
rupture  existed  between  two  persons  or  parties  it 
must  be  settled  at  once  and  not  left  to  embarrass  and 
corrupt  the  society. 

This  meeting  commenced  under  very  unfavorable 
auspices.  The  attendance  was  large,  but  the  labor- 
ers few.  We  preached,  exhorted,  prayed  and  visited 
from  house  to  house  with  but  little  api)arent  result. 


148       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Brother  W.  and  myself  retired  on  Friday  night, 
very  much  depressed.  AVe  slept  but  little ;  the  worth 
of  souls  lay  heavy  on  our  hearts;  we  wept  and 
prayed  and  sought  counsel  of  the  Lord.  Before 
rising  in  the  morning  my  colleague  proposed  that  we 
each  give  the  other  a  text  for  the  day,  and  in  the 
name  of  God  we  would  "  declare  the  whole  counsel 
of  God,  whether  men  would  hear  or  forbear ;"  we 
agreed  to  preach  just  as  plainly  as  we  were  capable  of 
doing.  Brother  W.  was  to  preach  in  the  morning 
and  I  gave  him  for  his  text,  ''  Curse  ye  Meroz,  saith 
the  angel  of  the  Lord ;  curse  ye  bitterly  the  inhabi- 
tants  thereof  because  they  came  not  to  the  help  of 
the  Lord  against  the  mighty ;"  and  he  gave  me  the 
words  of  the  Prophet  Joel :  "  Woe  to  them  that  are 
at  ease  in  Zion.''  We  spent  the  morning  in  sharpen- 
ing our  swords  with  prayer  and  at  the  appointed 
time  began  to  "  smite ''  on  the  right  and  left  and 
"  si)ared  neither  old  nor  young."  My  colleague  did 
valiantly  for  the  Lord  of  Hosts ;  his  sword  had  a  keen 
edge  and  a  sharp  point  and  he  pierced  to  the  divid- 
ing asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and 
marrow,  and  laid  bare  the  quivering  hearts  of  the 
people  to  open  gaze.  I  knelt  by  his  side  while  he 
preached  and  trembled,  wept  and  prayed,  in  an  agony 
of  spirit.  The  Word  took  effect,  for  when  the  meet- 
ing closed  you  never  saw  a  more  angry  people  than 
were  the  members  of  the  church.  They  accused  the 
minister  of  being  personal,  and  holding  them  up  to 
public  scorn.  Each  claimed  that  he  meant  him  and 
they  felt  themselves  slandered.     He  mildly  but  firmly 


The  Two-Edged  Sword.  149 

told  them,  "  If  the  coat  fits  put  it  on."     When  they 
came  to  me  for  sympathy,  I  affirmed  that  Brother 
W.  had  done  his  duty  faithfully  in  reproving  sin 
that  there  was  great  guilt  here  and  it  was  just  as 
likely  to  be  m  them  as  their  neighbors,  and  every 
one  sliould  examine  his  or  her  heart  to  see  if  the  sin 
was  on  them.     It  was  dangerous  for  them  to  insult 
God  with  lukewarmness  of  soul  and  laxity  of  life 
and  hatred  and  revenge,  after  he  had  done  "so  much 
tor  them  m   bringing  them  into    his  family  and 
cementmg  them  together  by  the  blood  of  Christ  in 
warm  Christian  fellowship. 

We  were  entertained  at  Brother  Soper's,  a  promi- 
nent family  who  were  influential  in  the  church  but 
had  entered  into  the  broil  and  were  active  partizans. 
They  were  very  much  offended  at  the  discourse 
preached  by  Brother  W.  and  declared  that  if  another 
such  sermon  was  preached  they  would  quit  the  house 
and  withdraw  from  the  church.  The  whole  comnm- 
nity  was  excited.  I  commenced  the  afternoon  servi- 
ces  trembling  under  a  sense  of  my  responsibility  but 
fully  determined  to  spare  not.  As  I  announced  my 
text  the  preacher  in  charge  knelt  by  his  chair  at  my 
side,  and  like  Aaron  and  Ilur  held  up  my  hands  by 
mighty  prayer.  I  could  see  by  the  fiashing  eye,  the 
flushed  cheek  and  the  restlessness  of  those  who  were 
wounded  in  the  morning,  that  a  crisis  was  approach- 
ing. But  just  how  it  would  be  developed  was 
uncertain.  It  was  a  battle  between  human  passions 
and  divme  light.  I  knew  that  Satan  was  on  one  side 
and  God  on  the  other  and  knew  which  was  the 


150       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

mightiest.  But  I  remembered  that  God  would  not 
coerce  the  human  will,  and  trembled  for  the  result. 
For  half  an  hour  or  more  the  battle  went  on.  I 
noticed  that  mv  hostess  trembled  violently  and 
writhed  as  if  her  heart  was  breakino^.  At  length 
rising  to  her  feet  she  cried:  '-'Brother  Ervnn^  for 
God's  sake  stop^  I  canH  stand  it  any  longer ^  and 
falling  on  her  knees  in  the  middle  of  the  house,  witli 
streaming  eyes  and  uplifted  hands,  began  to  confess : 
"  It  is  me,  I  am  the  Achan  in  the  camp ! "  and  con- 
fessed her  faults  to  her  brethren  and  neighbors  and 
begged  their  forgiveness.  Soon  a  dozen  or  more 
were  bowing  around  her,  crying  ''  No,  it  is  I !  it  is  I, 
I  am  the  guilty  one  I  O  forgive  me !"  It  became 
general  all  over  the  house.  I  liad  seen  a  small  com- 
pany now  and  then  break  d(3wn  and  settle  their 
differences,  but  never  before  saw  a  whole  conffreira- 
tion,  saint  and  sinner,  weeping  on  one  anothers' necks 
and  asking  to  be  forgiven. 

That  meeting  continued  until  it  was  nearly  time 
to  commence  the  evening  service.  I  never  finished 
my  sermon.  God  took  it  and  gave  it  a  personal 
application  to  many  hearts. 

Our  evening  meeting  was  a  "  Bochein — a  place  of 
weeping,"  and  many  thanked  Brother  W.  for  his 
faithfulness,  and  lamented  their  naughtiness  of  heart 
in  resisting  the  truth.  We  had  a  fresh  proof  of 
God's  faithfulness  in  blessing  his  truth  when  declared 
in  plainness  and  love.  The  work  broke  out  in  won- 
derful power,  and  spread  in  all  directions.  The  love 
feast  Sunday  morning  was  a  Tabor  scene.     Every 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


151 


face  shone  with  a  divine  glory,  for  each  had  spent 

the    night    in    wrestling,  prevailing  prayer.     Like 

nature  after  a  heavy  storm,  when  lightning  flashed 

and  thunders  roared,   and   winds   bent  and  broke 

everything  before  them,  and  rain  poured  in  torrents 

from  the  clouds,  scattering  gloom  and  terror,  until 

the  sun  bursting  from  the  parting  clouds  throws  a 

flood  of  golden  light  over  the  landscape,  fair  now  as 

a  renovated  world. 

Far  more  bright  and  blessed  was  the  change  that 

had  come  over  this  church  in  the  wilderness,  when 

the  angry  storm  of  passion  had  subsided,  and  the 

"  Sun  of  Kighteousness  had  risen  with  healing  in  his 

wings."     The  birds   of   paradise   were   singing  in 

every  heart,  and  God's  sweet  peace  reigning  over 

his  people.     The  testimonies  of  that  hour  were  full 

of  confession,  forgiveness,  trust,  love,  and  holy  joy. 

The  hymns  were  tender  and  assuring.     They  realized 

how  "  good  and  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell 

together  in  unity  "  as  they  sang : 

"  Now  free  from  envy,  scorn  and  pride, 
Our  wishes  all  above. 
Each  can  his  brother's  failings  hide, 
And  show  a  brother's  love. 

Let  love  in  one  delightful  stream 

Through  every  bosom  flow, 
And  union  sweet,  and  dear  esteem 

In  every  action  glow." 

When  a  brother,  who  had  been  active  in  the  quar- 
rel, spoke  penitently  of  his  guilt,  humbly  begging 
forgiveness,  and,  realizing  his  weakness,  implored 
their  prayers,  that  he  might  always  have  '^  a  meek 


152       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

and  quiet  spirit,"  how  earnestly  and  tenderly  all 
joined  in  the  appropriate  lines  of  Charles  Wesley : 

•'  Help  118  to  help  each  other,  Lord, 
Each  other's  cross  to  bear ! 
Let  each  his  friendly  aid  afford, 
And  feel  his  brother's  care." 

This  was  a  glorious  love  feast ;  it  seemed  complete 
in  humility,  love,  charity,  consecration,  and  praise. 
At  the  close  we  all  joined  with  heart  and  voice  in 
singing : 

"  And  if  our  fellowshij)  below 
In  Jesus  be  so  sweet, 
What  height  of  rapture  shall  we  know 
When  round  his  throne  we  meet! " 

The  revival  went  on  with  great  power  and  spread 
into  the  surrounding  neighborhood,  bringing  old  and 
young  to  God.  Its  influence  was  felt  many  years 
as  the  wilderness  was  changed  to  smiling  fields  by 
these  sturdy  pioneers. 

But  I  must  pass  over  several  meetings  and  revival 
scenes  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  on  the  circuit, 
only  noting  one  incident  for  its  peculiarity.  During 
a  meeting  held  in  Gouverneur,  in  the  winter  of  1835, 
a  resolute  man,  perhaps  fifty-six  years  of  age,  whose 
name  I  cannot  recall,  came  to  the  "mourners' 
bench."  There  was  something  marked  in  his 
appearance.  lie  was  evidently  a  thinking  man, 
accustomed  to  society,  capable  of  exerting  a  strong 
influence,  but  seemed  "dogmatical  and  eccentric. 
The  sermon  that  evening  was  founded  on  the  words 
of    Paul;     "In    meekness    instructing    those   that 


The  Two-Edged  Sword. 


153 


oppose  themselves;  if  God  peradventure  will  give 
them  repentance  to  the  acknowledging  of  the  truth ; 
and  that  they  may  recover  themselves  out  of  the 
snare  of  the  devil,  who  are  taken  captive  by  him  at 
his  wiU." 

The  discourse  was  plain  and  pointed,  struck  at  the 
sins  of  men,  reminding  them  of  their  accountability, 
the  retributions  of  eternity,  the  danger  of  sinning 
against  light  and  procrastinating  repentance,  and 
closed  with  a  solemn  appeal  for  immediate  decision. 
Among  those  Avho  responded  to  the  invitation  to 
come  to  the  mercv  seat  was  this  man.  He  was 
greatly  moved ;  the  arrows  of  truth  had  entered  his 
soul  and  he  trembled  before  his  Maker.  God  gave 
his  people  a  mighty  spirit  of  prayer  that  night,  and 
several  found  peace.  He  told  the  congregation  that 
he  had  not  been  in  a  religious  meeting  before  for  ten 
years.  That  when  a  young  man  he  entered  the 
ministry,  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  preached  with 
acceptability  and  success  for  several  years,  but  get- 
ting into  trouble  with  his  church  he  left  them,  soured 
and  disappointed,  moved  into  that  town  and  settled 
on  a  farm.  He  avoided  the  sanctuarv,  shunned 
Christian  people,  gave  up  his  family  altar,  and  made 
shipwreck  of  his  faith.  He  read  infidel  books  and 
imbibed  their  sentiments,  hated  religion,  and  despised 
all  who  professed  it.  Hearing  of  the  revival  and 
the  interest  it  was  awakening,  thought  he  would 
attend  the  meeting  just  to  see  if  the  Methodists 
managed  their  meetings  any  different  from  what 
they  did  when  he  was  in  the  field.     In  the  meeting, 


154      Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  text  arrested  his  attention,  the  sermon  convinced 
his  judgment,  the  appeals  produced  compunction, 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  applied  the  truth  to  his  heart. 
He  saw  his  lost  condition,  and  was  led  to  cry  :  "  O 
wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from 
the  body  of  this  death?"  When  the  "seekers" 
were  invited  to  come  forward  for  prayer  he  came, 
scarcely  reahzing  what  he  did.  "  And  now  if  there 
is  mercy  for  one  who  has  rejected  God,  denied  the 
truth,  rushed  into  error,  and  sinned  against  light  and 
knowledge,"  he  desired  to  find  it  at  anv  cost.  We 
reminded  liim  that  there  is  but  one  wav  for  all, 
"Eepentance  toward  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ;"  and  if  he  confessed  his  sins,  '-He 
is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  his  sins  and  to  cleanse 
him  from  all  unrighteousness."  He  saved  Man- 
asseh  and  Peter  from  their  backslid  ings,  and  has 
mercy  for  the  chief  of  sinners."  He  went  home 
that  night  a  penitent  man,  rebuilt  his  family  altar, 
took  up  his  cross,  and  became  a  true  disciple  sitting 
at  the  Savior's  feet."  He  united  with  the  church, 
and  labored  as  a  local  preacher,  during  my  acquaint- 
ance with  him.  He  never  fullv  recovered  his  con- 
fidence  and  power.  He  was  a  warning  to  ministers 
to  be  true  to  principle,  and  not  allow  the  faults  or 
follies  of  others  to  turn  them  away  from  duty.  A 
backslidden  minister  is  alwavs  a  wretched  man. 

Wisely  did  St.  Paul  reason  when  he  said :  "  But 
I  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into  subjection ; 
lest  that  by  any  means,  when  1  have  preached  to 
others,  I  mvself  should  be  a  castaway." 


Aggressive  Movemen U, 


155 


CHAPTER  XL 


AGGRESSIVE  MOVEMENTS. 


ip^^HEX  Brother  L.  King  left  Gouverneur  circuit 
Y\  in  1833  by  expiration  of  time,  he  was  appointed 
to  Canton  circuit  witli  John  Lowery  as  junior 
preacher.  Brother  Lowery  was  a  young  man  of  fair 
preaching  abilities  and  deep  piety  but  was  not  popu- 
lar with  the  people.  The  autumn  and  winter  passed 
with  less  revival  than  they  wished.  Brother  King 
arranged  for  two  meetings  in  the  early  summer,  one 
at  Buck's  Bridge,  the  other  at  Long  Rapids,  now 
Morley.  It  was  arranged  that  Brother  Lowery  and 
mvself  should  chanfi^e  circuits  for  four  weeks.  He 
was  to  take  my  regular  round  and  I  to  assist  Brother 
K.  in  the  meetings.  The  meeting  was  to  commence  at 
the  chapel  at  Buck's  Bridge  on  Friday  with  a  fast 
day.  We  rarely  went  into  an  extra  effort  to  save 
souls  without  observing  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
for  special  preparation,  and  the  outjx)uring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  These  fast  days  were  seasons  of  great 
humiliation  and  searching  of  heart,  knowing  that  if 
we  "  regarded  iniquity  in  our  hearts  "  the  Lord  would 
not  hear  us.  I  have  known  a  church  unitedly  to 
plead  with  God  as  a  man  would  plead  for  his  hfe 
saying :  "  If  thy  presence  go  not  with  us  carry  us 


15<i       Remi'niscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

not  hence."  If  you  want  to  know  the  power  of 
united  prayer,  look  into  one  of  these  fast-day  meet- 
ings and  witness  the  mighty  struggle  of  men  with 
God  in  their  grasp  of  faith,  saying  with  the  earnest- 
ness of  Jacob  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou 
bless  me  "  and  waiting  for  the  answer,  "  My  pres- 
ence shall  go  with  thee/'  If  any  think  that  those 
old  ^Nrethodists  sung  and  shouted  these  sweeping 
revivals  in  at  pleasure,  they  are  greatly  mistaken. 
With  all  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  Olympian 
athletes,  they  struggled  and  wrestled  and  prevailed. 

Keturning  from  these  meetings  I  have  known  men 
to  enter  their  closets  and  face  to  face  with  God 
Avrestle  till  the  break  of  day,  believing  that  "  The 
kindom  of  Heaven  suffereth  violence  and  the  violent 
take  it  bv  force.'' 

Another  thing  was  carefully  looked  after  in  these 
fast-day  services,  ''The  unity  of  the  spirit."  We 
could  not  go  out  to  battle  with  divided  forces. 
'*  United  we  stand  ;  divided  we  fall,"  was  our  motto. 
Every  difficulty  must  be  settled.  There  must  be 
hannony  and  union  in  the  work.  I  have  known 
hours  spent,  tears  shed,  and  many  prayers  offered  to 
adjust  differences.  In  union  we  found  strength,  and 
when  the  Captain  of  our  salvation  led  his  army  out, 
a  firm  phalanx  against  sin,  ''  The  world  could  not 
withstand  its  ancient  Conquerer." 

Thus  pled  the  little  church  in  that  meeting  and 
God  gave  us  a  token  for  good  in  pentecostal  show- 
ers. Saturday  was  a  day  of  pruning  and  consecration. 
Sabbath  morning  found  the  chapel  crowded  in  the 


A(jyre^sive  Movement's. 


157 


9  o'clock  love-feast.  God  had  put  a  burden  of  souls 
upon  his  people.  The  testimonies  rang  with  personal 
victories  won,  and  tearful  longings  for  the  salvation 
of  friends  and  neighbors.  The  preaching  was  backed 
up  that  day  by  the  earnest  prayer  of  the  heaven- 
annointed  church,  and  faith  saw  the  "  little  cloud " 
rising  in  the  heavens.  Conviction  was  deep  and 
general  in  the  evening,  but  men  fought  against  God, 
and  it  seemed  doubtful  for  a  time  wliether  man's 
stubborn  will,  or  pleading  mercy  would  prevail.  The 
meeting  continued  late,  and  about  one  hour  before  it 
closed  the  "break  down"  came.  It  came  as  if 
God's  battery  had  poured  a  volley  into  the  ranks. 
The  slain  of  the  Lord  were  many.  A  score  were  at 
the  "mourner's  bench"  and  the  meeting  closed  with 
victorv. 

We  held  two  daily  meetings  through  the  week, 
reserving  the  mornings  for  visiting  from  house  to 
house,  strengthening  the  converts,  encouraging  the 
penitents,  and  warning  the  careless.  It  was  a  week 
of  spiritual  profit  to  the  community.  More  than  a 
score  of  intelligent  young  people  were  subjects  of 
the  work.  Several  heads  of  families  were  also  con- 
verted and  many  of  the  children  were  singing  hosan- 
nas  to  the  Son  of  David.  The  work  spread  to  the 
adjacent  villages  and  neighborhoods,  and  each  suc- 
cessive day  brought  fresh  groups  to  the  meetings. 
One  afternoon  among  the  "  seekers  "  at  the  "  mourn- 
er's bench "  were  several  ladies  whom  we  had  not 
noticed  before.  They  were  in  great  distress  of  soul, 
inquiring  what  they   must  do  to  be  saved.      We 


158       Be77iinisce7ices  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

pointed  them  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  came  to  save 
them.     As  they  arose,  I  noticed  they  were  in  full 
dress  as  if  adorned  for  the  drawing-room  or  an  as- 
sembly of  the  elite ;  silks,  jewels  and  all  the  para- 
phernalia of  fashion.     I  have  often  since  wondered 
why  so  many  adorn  themselves  to  enter  God's  house, 
when  he  has  expressly  forbidden  "  outward  adorn- 
ing "  and  requires  the  ornaments  of  "  a  meek  and 
(juiet  spirit."     But  these  ladies  were  thoroughly  sub- 
dued  by  the   Spirit  and    willing  to  do  anything 
required.     When  instructed  that  with  the  heart  they" 
were  to  believe  unto   righteousness,  and  with   the 
mouth  make  confession  unto  salvation,  they  readily 
confessed  their  sinfulness,  their  need  of  a  Savior, 
their  willingness  to  forsake  the  world  and  live  conse- 
crated lives,  and  humbly  implored  prayers  that  they 
might  be  saved.     As  we  bowed  again  before  the 
mercy  seat  they  grasped  by  faith  the  promises  and 
entered  into  rest.     I  was  greatly  interested  in  the 
experience  of  the  eldest  of  the  group ;  it  was  so  calm 
and  clear  and  trusting.     She  introduced  me  to  her 
husband  at  the  close  of  the  service  as  Mr.  Ilorton,  of 
Columbia  village,  now  Madrid.     ]\Ir.  Horton  was  a 
lawyer,  a  man   of  wealth   and  position   and   much 
respected  in  all  that  country.     They  gave  me  a  warm 
invitation  to  visit  them  and  make  their  house  my 
home  when  in  that  section ;  said  they  would  be  up 
again  to  the  evening  meeting  and  I  must  accompany 
them  home  for  the  night  and  they  would  return  me 
m  the  morning  for  my  work.     I  complied  with  their 
request,  had  a  delightful  visit,  a  restful  night,  and 


Aggressive  Movements. 


159 


made  acquaintances  that  will  make  Heaven  sweeter. 
The  work  deepened  and  widened  during  the  week 
and  gave  promise  of  a  bountiful  harvest. 

Among  the  converts  were  a  young  married  couple 
of  respectable  parentage  on  both  sides.     They  moved 
among  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  were  highly 
respected.      They  were  near  my  own  age,  had  come 
out  fully  on  the  Lord's  side,  and  were  active  in  the 
work.     I  enjoyed  their  hospitality  frequently  during 
the  progress  of  the  meeting.     I  led  them  to  the 
"  mourner's  bench,"  guided  their  feet  to  the  sinner's 
Friend,  heard  their  first  song  of  praise,  aided  in  the 
erection  of  their  family  altar,  received  them  on  pro- 
bation into  the  church,  and  helped  them  walk  the 
narrow  way  in  their  early  experience.     Amos  and 
Mina  Whitney  were  precious  friends.     I  loved  them 
warmly  with  a  pure  Christian  affection,  and  I  expect 
to  meet  them  at  the  pearly  gates  and  receive  their 
greetings  when   I   join  the    blood-washed   throng. 
They  were  loyal  to  the  church  at  Buck's  Bridge  in 
after  years  when  it  was  rent  by  secession,  and  kept 
her  altar  fires  burning  and  lit  the  lamps  of  the  sanc- 
tuarv  in  davs  that  tried  men's  souls.     Brother  Whit- 
ney  has  been  occupying  his  many  mansioned  home 
for  several  years,  and  last  autumn,  when  the  leaves 
were  falling,  God's  chariot  came  for  her  whom  he 
loved  so  fondly,  and  gave  them  an  immortal  union  in 
that  blessed  clime  where  there  is  no  death  or  part- 
mg.     They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives 
and  in  their  death  they  were  not  long  divided.    Sister 
Whitney   was  an  elder  sister  of  the  cultured  and 


160       Ileminisceyices  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

devoted  wife  of  Rev.  William  Jones,  of  the  Central 
New  York  Conference.  Her  sister  Sally  (Mrs.  Wood- 
bridge),  who  was  early  translated  from  the  head  of 
a  young  and  lovely  family,  was  one  of  the  most  pious 
and  useful  workers  among  the  converts.  Captain 
Shennan,  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens,  though 
he  professed  to  be  a  Universal ist,  was  an  ardent 
friend  to  our  church.  His  estimable  wife  was  a 
devoted,  active  and  influential  member,  and  the 
preachers  were  always  welcomed  to  their  hospitalit v. 
They  kept  what  was  called  in  that  day  "  a  Methodist 
tavern,"  and  were  never  so  happy  as  when  adminis- 
terino^  to  the  wearv  itinerants.  In  all  the  vears  of 
my  busy  life,  when  pressed  with  care  and  anxiety,  my 
heart  would  go  back  to  that  sunny  home  and  luxu- 
riate in  departed  comforts.  The  Captain's  son, 
Eansom,  became  a  subject  of  the  revival.  He  was 
perhaps  thirteen  or  fourteen  years  of  age,  a  bright 
and  promising  boy,  and  he  grew  up  to  fulfill  the 
hopes  of  his  parents  and  friends.  The  last  I  heard 
of  him  he  was  successfully  practicing  medicine,  with 
a  lovely  family  growing  up  around  him  and  blessed 
with  a  host  of  friends.  The  conversion  of  Ransom 
made  a  deep  impression  on  his  father.  He  became 
orthodox  in  his  views,  and  though  not  converted, 
was  deeply  anxious  that  his  son  should  grow  up  a 
devoted,  active  member  of  the  church.  He  erected 
the  family  altar  by  reading  the  Scripture  and  then 
calling  alternately  upon  his  wife  and  son  to  lead  in 
prayer.  He  would  kneel  with  them  and  weep  like  a 
child  and   audibly  respond    "Amen,"    though    he 


Aggressive  Movements. 


161 


thought  he  could  not  pray  vocally.     Thus  he  lived 
weeks  before  he  came  out  decidedly  for  God. 

On  the  second  Sabbath  of  the  meeting  I  was  left 
alone,  as  Brother  King  had  to  supply  his  appoint- 
ment on  another  part  of  the  circuit.     Our  second 
love-feast  at  this  meeting  was  one  of  unusual  interest. 
The  old  members  who  had  borne  the  burden  and  the 
heat  of  the  day,  and  had  wept   and  prayed  over 
unsaved  friends,  were  now  in  raptures  over  converted 
husbands,  wives,  children  and  neighbors.     The  con- 
verts were  warm  in  their  first  love,  and  in  full  sym- 
pathy with  a  soul  saving  church.     Several  penitents 
with  burdened  hearts  and  tearful  eyes  were  found  in 
different  parts  of  the  house,  each  surrounded  by  a 
group  of  anxious,  praying  friends,  intent  upon  their 
salvation.     Durmg  the  opening  prayer,  the  power  of 
God  moved  the  assembly  like  the  shock  of  an  earth- 
(juake.     The   burden   of   every  heart   was  for  the 
extension  of   the  revival.     The    pleading  minister 
could  not  be  denied,  and  the  wrestling  Jacobs,  the 
weeping  Marys,  and  the  praying  Hannahs,  pressed 
the  suit  with  omnipotent  faith.     It  was  the  "  nothing 
wavering  "  prayer  that  never  fails.     It  was  the  voice 
of  a  united  church  crying,  "  Give  us  souls  or  else  we 
die."    And  He  who  said :     "  What  things  soever  ye 
desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them, 
and  ye  shall  have  them,"  fulfilled  his  promise  with 
assurance  of   victorv.     Like  the  commotion  of  the 
ocean  after  the  storm  is  passed,  so  it  took  some  time 
after  the  prayer  was  ended  to  quiet  the  emotions  of 

that  heaven  moved  audience. 

11 


102       Reininhcences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

As  we  rose  from  the  mercv  seat,  it  was  found  that 
two  of  the  penitents,  heads  of  families,  were  rap- 
turously saved.  Such  struggles  not  only  exhibited 
the  power  of  a  pentecostal  church,  but  honors  the 
Author  of  prayer,  who  is  satisfied  with  the  travail 
of  his  people.  The  testimonies  that  morning  were 
in  the  spirit,  and  given  in  the  rhetoric  of  heaven. 
Several  spoke  for  the  first  time  of  a  Savior  found, 
and  the  jov  of  salvation,  and  moved  all  hearts  bv 
their  persuasive  invitations  to  those  who  halted  by 
the  way,  to  hasten  to  the  banquet  of  mercy.  Durino- 
the  ])rogress  of  the  meeting,  another  soul  was  trans- 
lated into  the  kingdom  of  (iod's  dear  Son.  If  there 
is  joy  in  heaven  over  the  repentance  of  a  sinner,  well 
might  a  praying  church  rejoice  over  the  release  of  a 
captive  soul.  "  Let  the  inhabitants  of  the  rock  sing ; 
let  them  shout  from  the  top  of  the  mountain." 

It  was  easy  preaching  after  such  a  love  feast :  but 
in  the  midst  of  my  sermon  an  agitated  man  came 
into  the  church  perspiring  and  panting,  as  if  from 
the  chase.  He  sprang  up  the  pulpit  steps,  and  said 
in  an  excited  voice  :  ''  Mr.  Smith,  of  Columbia  vil- 
lage, is  dying,  and  wants  you  to  come  quick  and 
pray  for  him,  for  he  is  not  prepared  to  die."  Closing 
my  sermon  in  a  few  sentences,  I  found  a  horse  ready 
at  the  door,  and  as  I  vaulted  into  the  saddle,  the  man 
said  :  "  Don't  spare  the  horse ;  put  him  to  the  fun." 
I  soon  perceived  that  I  was  well  mounted,  and  let 
the  mettled  steed  skim  the  road  with  bounding  fleet- 
ness.  As  I  approached  the  house,  which  stood  at 
the  farther  end  of  the  village,  I  recognized  the  place 


Aggressive  Movements. 


163 


'^ 


by  the  crowd  around  it.     Springing  from  the  panting 
beast  I  was  hurried  by  eager  neighbors  to  the  sick 
man's  room;  but   alas,   too  late!     The  spirit  had 
gone  to  the  God  who  gave  it.     I  witnessed  the  last 
gasp  as  I  entered  the  door  and  stood  in  the  presence 
of  death,  and  falling  on  my  knees  at  the  bedside, 
wept  at  the  folly  of  sinners  in  postponing  prepara- 
tion for  eternity  until  their  feet  stand  on  the  crum- 
bling verge  of  the  grave.     Returning  to  the  crowded 
])arlors,  I  said  to  the  people :     "  Prayer  cannot  help 
that  man  now,  his  doom  is  fixed,  but  it  will  avail  for 
us ; "  and  falling  upon  my  knees,  I  cried  to  (rod  for 
mercy  to  guilty  sinners  who  were  still  probationers 
for  eternity,  and  asked  God  to  make  this  solemn 
providence  a  warning  to  the  living,  and  help  them 
to  get  ready  for  a  dying  hour.     I  learned  before 
leaving,  that  the  man  tossed  in  dreadful  agony  for 
an  hour  before  his  death,  crying  for  mercy  and  fran- 
tically asking  if  the  preacher  had  come.     Xot  three 
minutes  before  he  breathed  his  last,  he  begged  his 
attendants  to   run  to  the  door  and  see  if  he  had 
not  come.     Poor  man,  if   he   had  trusted   in  the 
^'  only  sacrifice,"  instead  of  the  prayers  of  a  fellow 
worm,  he  might  have  found  peace  for  his  guilty 
soul.    I  returned  to  the  meeting  more  fully  deter- 
mined to  deal  plainly  and  faithfully  with  the  living. 
In  the  meeting  that  night  we  had  a  moving  time, 
and  many  bowed  in  prayer. 

On  Tuesday  I  preached  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  Colunibia,  the  funeral  sermon  of  Mr. 
Smith.     He  had  lived  a  very  wicked  life,  and  died  a 


164       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circnit  Life, 

shocking  death.  It  was  said  that  he  had  often  sworn 
he  would  never  go  inside  the  church,  unless  he  was 
carried  in  feet  foremost,  and  people  wept  when  his 
remains  were  carried  down  the  aisle  in  front  of  the 
pulpit.  It  was  a  solemn  funeral,  and  I  hoped  some 
would  hear  the  warning  voice.  We  were  obliged  to 
close  the  meeting  at  Buck's  Bridge  on  Wednesday 
evening,  while  the  revival  spirit  was  at  its  height, 
because  Brother  King  had  arranged  to  commence 
the  meeting  at  Long  Eapids  (Morley),  on  Thursday. 
It  was  an  unfortunate  arrangement  to  have  the 
meetings  in  point  of  time  so  near  together,  and  he 
saw  it  when  too  late  to  remedy  it.  I  urged  him  to 
go  up  and  preach  once,  and  take  up  the  appointment, 
but  he  did  not  see  his  way  clear  to  do  that.  I  then 
proposed  that  he  should  go  and  conduct  the  meeting 
at  Long  Rapids,  and  leave  me  to  aid  the  brethren 
here,  or  that  he  remain  and  I  go ;  but  he  insisted  on 
carrying  out  his  original  plan.  So  we  reluctantly 
left."^ 

Long  Rapids  was  a  hard  place,  religiously.  We 
had  a  small  class  there,  but  few  p.ofessors  in  the 
place.  Most  of  the  people  called  themselves  Uni- 
versalists.  The  meeting  was  held  in  a  barn,  which 
was  fitted  up  very  comfortably  for  the  purpose. 
The  congregations  were  good,  but  the  place  was  like 
Ezekiel's  vision  of  dry  bones — cold  and  dead  and 
dry.  Our  few  members  were  devoted,  living  Christ- 
ians, but  their  etforts  were  like  beating  the  air.  The 
people  were  strongly  prejudiced  against  experi- 
mental religion. 


Aggressive  Movements. 


165 


One  old  man,  who  had  been  a  L^niversalist  preacher, 
attended.  He  was  a  bold,  hardened  opposer  and 
arrayed  himself  against  the  success  of  the  meeting. 
In  making  an  appeal  to  the  wicked,  I  related  the 
case  of  a  vouno^  lady  who  lived  in  Middletown,  Ct., 
who  went  to  the  city  of  Hartford,  and  spent  the 
winter  at  her  uncle's.  There  was  a  great  revival  in 
the  city,  and  her  cousins  became  subjects  of  the 
work,  but  she  remained  apparently  unconcerned. 

The  winter  wore  away  ;  hundreds  were  converted, 
and  she  was  to  leave  for  her  home  the  next  day. 
Her  friends  had  made  her  the  subject  of  earnest 
prayer,  and  their  solicitude  for  her  salvation  deep- 
ened as  she  was  soon  to  take  her  departure. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  meeting  she  was  deeply 
affected ;  the  Holy  Spirit  showed  her  her  condition, 
enlightened  her  mind,  quickened  her  conscience,  and 
awakened  her  compunctions  for  sin.  But  she  grieved 
the  Spirit,  lost  her  convictions,  and  became  indiffer- 
ent and  irritated  by  the  pressing  solicitations  of  her 
friends. 

Her  cousins  felt  that  she  must  not  leave  the  city 
until  she  gave  her  heart  to  God.  The  last  evening 
of  her  stay  they  wept  over  her,  and  plead  with  her 
to  take  the  anxious  seat,  as  only  Christians  can  plead, 
but  she  resisted  all  their  entreaties,  and  scornfully 
repelled  their  invitations  by  saying:  "/  vjould 
rather  take  my  seat  in  hell.'''' 

The  next  morning  she  left  for  her  home  in  Middle- 
town  ;  took  a  slight  cold  on  the  cars,  but  her  friends 
did  not  consider  it  serious  for  a  few  days,  but  as  it 


C 


160       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


increased,  called  a  physician,  who  pronounced  her 
case  hopeless. 

A  minister  was  sent  for,  who  proposed  prayer,  but 
she  said:  ''It  will  do  no  good:  it  is  too  late!'* 
She  then  related  the  interest  of  the  meeting,  the 
conversion  of  her  cousins  and  friends,  their  solicitude 
for  her,  their  prayers,  tears  and  entreaties  to  go  to 
the  anxious  seat,  and  her  deliberately  saying :  "  I 
would  rather  take  my  seat  in  hell.  I  have  defied 
God.  But  I  did  not  think  he  would  take  me  at  my 
word  so  soon."  Thev  told  her  of  the  thief  on  the 
cross,  and  how  the  tender  hearted  Saviour  received 
him.  But  she  aifirmed  that  he  never  sinned  as  she 
had.  He  had  never  slighted  Christ  or  refused  his 
mercy ;  had  but  one  opportunity  and  improved  it, 
while  she  had  sinned  against  light,  trifled  with 
sacred  things,  scorned  the  offer  of  mere}",  and  it  was 
now  too  late.  She  died  in  great  agony,  crying :  *'  I 
have  sealed  my  damnation  and  am  lost." 

The  old  man  arose  and  asked  if  I  would  give  him 
the  name  of  a  responsible  party  to  whom  he  might 
write,  to  learn  the  truth  of  these  statements.  I 
replied  most  certainly,  and  without  any  hesitancy 
gave  him  the  name  of  Dr.  Smyth,  president  of  the 
Weslevan  Universitv  at  Middletown,  Ct.,  who  was 
familiar  with  the  case,  and  could  give  him  all  the 
particulars,  or  if  more  convenient  for  him  he  might 
address  Kev.  Mr.  Elsworth,  of  Lowville,  Lewis 
county.  N.  Y.,  who  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the 
young  lady  and  her  family,  who  would  take  a 
melancholy  pleasure  in  giving  him  the  facts.     He 


Aggressive  Movements. 


167 


was  evidently  disappointed,  as  he  expected  to  con- 
fuse and  confound  me.  He  interrupted  me  another 
time  as  I  was  making  an  appeal,  and  enforcing  it  by 
an  incident,  asking  for  a  responsible  name  to  whom 
he  might  apply  to  verify  the  statements,  and  I 
promptly  gave  him  a  reference. 

I  preached  one  afternoon  on  the  text,  "  Thou  shalt 
catch  men,"  and  about  a  dozen  came  forward  as 
*'  seekers,"  all  ladies,  it  being  a  busy  time,  and  men 
were  needed  in  the  fields.  He  sneeringly  responded : 
*'  The  Savior  sent  his  servants  to  '  catch  men,'  but 
vou  have  only  caught  women,  and  are  not  therefore 
in  the  regular  succession."  I  replied  that  men  in 
my  text  was  a  generic  term,  and  meant  the  human 
race,  whether  men  or  women,  and  every  one  knew 
it  except  an  ignoramus.  That  it  gave  me  pleasure 
to  instruct  him  in  the  matter,  and  if  he  would  come 
in  the  evening,  when  the  men  would  be  present,  he 
would  see  manv  of  them,  who  were  once  as  hell 
daring  as  himself,  at  the  "  mourners'  bench." 

We  had  a  good  work,  but  not  large  ;  about  twenty- 
five  were  added  to  the  church,  and  the  brethren 
greatly  strengthened. 

Sabbath  evening  we  learned  that  Elder  Scott,  the 
Baptist  minister,  who  preached  to  a  small  church  at 
the  Doren  school  house,  about  a  mile  from  Buck's 
chapel,  had  sent  for  an  evangelist  and  commenced  a 
meeting  the  day  after  we  left. 

He  had  attended  our  meeting,  was  treated  very 
courteously,  invited  to  take  a  prominent  part,  and 
knew  that  we  were  to  return  after  the  Sabbath  and 


*i 


108       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

continue  the  meeting  at  the  chapel.  It  was  there- 
fore considered  very  unfair  antl  unbrotherlv,  under 
the  circumstances,  for  him  to  take  that  course. 

Brother  King  was  very  much  afflicted  with  the 
course  that  the  elder  pursued,  after  professing  so 
much  friendship  and  brotherly  love  as  he  did  at  our 
meeting,  and  determined  not  to  return.  I  made  the 
matter  a  subject  of  prayer  and  thought  it  over  until 
Wednesday,  when  1  told  Brother  King  that  I  w^as 
going  to  help  the  Baptist  brethren  in  their  meeting 
at  Doren's  school  house.  If  the  work  went  on  well, 
I  woukl  stay  until  the  middle  of  the  followino-  week; 
but  if  it  did  not,  I  would  resume  the  meeting  at  the 
chapel  after  the  Sabbath. 

He  thought  I  had  better  go  with  him  to  Canton 
village,  and  commence  a  meeting  there  on  the  Sab- 
bath, but  my  love  for  the  converts  at  Buck's  Bridge 
drew  me  in  that  direction.  Brother  King  was  dis- 
gusted and  disheartened,  while  opposition  always 
aroused  me  to  action. 

I  left  Long  Rapids  Thursday  and  went  to  the 
Baptist  meeting  held  at  Doren  school  house,  about 
one  mile  from  Buck's  Bridge.  Found  them  holding 
meetings  in  a  large  cider  mill  twice  a  day.  There 
were  five  ministers  in  attendance ;  one  of  them,  who 
was  an  evangelist,  did  the  preaching,  the  others 
visited  from  house  to  house  and  labored  in  the  prayer 
and  inquiry  meetings.  I  took  the  earliest  opportu- 
nity to  inform  them  that  I  had  come  to  help  them  ; 
would  [)ut  myself  into  their  hands  to  w^ork  for  souls ; 
was  ready  "  to  be  a  hewer  of  wood  and  a  drawer 


A ggressive  Movemen  fs. 


ir>9 


of  water,''  to  blow  the  fire,  or  to  do  any  work  for 
God  that  I  was  capable  of  doing.  They  did  not 
give  me  a  very  enthusiastic  reception,  but  sent  me 
out  that  afternoon  to  visit  several  families  with  one 
of  their  preachers. 

The  converts  from  Buck's  Chapel  gave  me  a  cordial 
welcome,  inviting  me  to  their  homes  and  supplying 
all  my  wants.  There  was  nothing  unusual  occurred 
on  Friday  and  Saturday.  The  meeting  moved  slowly ; 
there  were  a  few  at  the  "anxious  seat"  every  ser- 
vice, but  the  conversions  were,  not  clear ;  they  only 
"  experienced  a  hope.''  My  soul  was  pressed  with 
sorrow  and  could  only  hold  on  to  God  by  faith.  A 
request  was  made,  without  my  knowledge  at  the 
time,  by  several  influential  converts,  that  I  be  per- 
mitted to  preach  on  the  Sabbath.  So  it  was  arranged 
to  divide  the  congregation  in  the  morning;  the 
evangelist  preachihg  in  the  school  house  and  myself 
in  the  cider  mill,  and  in  the  afternoon  to  have  but 
one  meeting,  to  be  held  in  the  cider  mill,  the  evange- 
list preaching.  The  announcement  was  made  accord- 
ingly. I  felt  the  responsibility  of  my  position  greatly. 
I  could  plainly  see  that  I  was  considered  as  an  intru- 
der and  that  a  failure  on  ray  part  would  not  be 
painful  to  the  leaders  of  the  meeting.  I  fled  to  God 
for  help,  appealed  to  him  for  the  purity  of  my 
motives  and  spent  quite  a  part  of  the  night  in  prayer 
for  divine  assistance.  We  had  an  inquiry  meeting  at 
9  o'clock,  which  was  well  attended  and  solemn.  The 
preaching  service  commenced  at  10:30.  The  evange- 
list and  one  of  the  elders  went  to  the  school  house, 


1  TO       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  other  three  came  to  help  me.  It  Avas  thought 
that  seven  or  eight  hundred  people  attended  the 
meeting  that  day. 

The  school  house  was  about  eight  rods  down  the 
road  from  Deacon  Doren's  house,  and  the  cider  mill 
in  an  orchard  a  little  farther  on  the  other  side  of  the 
deacon's.  It  was  said  that  the  congregation  in  the 
school  hous  >  numbered  fifty ;  the  balance  was  in  and 
around  the  cider  mill. 

The  Baptist  preacher  conducted  the  opening  servi- 
ces for  me.  I  trembled  under  the  cross,  but  took  off 
my  coat  and  cravat,  and  trusting  in  Him  who  said 
"  Lo  I  am  with  you  always,"  I  delivered  my  message. 

I  find  among  my  papers  a  sketch  of  the  sermon  I 
preached  on  that  occasion.  It  was  written  out  after 
the  meeting  because  it  was  called  in  question.  I 
insert  it  here  as  a  fair  sample  of  the  preaching  of 
that  day.  Of  course  there  were  preachers  strong, 
logical,  argumentative  and  conclusive,  sweeping  away 
the  debris,  laying  the  foundation  and  erecting  the 
framework.  But  we  depended  much  upon  the  ex- 
pository and  hortatory  to  convince  and  move  to  right 
action  and  complete  the  work. 

My  text  was  taken  from  Paul's  sermon  at  Antioch, 
Acts  xiii,  -1:1 :  "  Behold  ye,  despi'sers,  and  wond6r,  and 
perish  ;  for  I  work  a  work  in  your  days,  a  work  which 
ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  though  a  man  declare  it 
unto  vou." 

I.  This  text  points  out  God's  work — man's  unbehef 
and  its  results. 

1.  God  is  doing  in  our  day  a  work  of  conviction 


Aggressive  Movements. 


171 


by  awakening  thought.  Men  are  investigating  the 
truth  and  searching  the  Scriptures  to  see  if  the  things 
we  preach  are  true,  a  work  of  compunction  and  con- 
trition. 

2.  A  work  of  conversion.  Conversion  is  that 
mighty  change  by  which  a  natural  man  becomes  a 
spiritual  man — a  new  creature.  This  is  absolutely 
necessary,  for  Christ  says  :  "  Yerily,  verily  I  say  unto 
thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  enter 
the  kingdom  of  God."  Yerily  has  the  solemnity 
and  importance  of  an  oath.  Christ  only  uses  it  when 
he  is  about  to  communicate  something  of  paramount 
importance.  The  truth  stated  here  is  that  a  man 
cannot  get  into  Heaven  without  a  radical  conversion. 
There  is  no  appeal  from  this  conclusion.  It  is  the 
decision  of  the  Great  Teacher.  The  choice  then  is 
conversion  and  Heaven,  or  your  carnal  state  and  hell ; 
which  will  you  take  ? 

3.  A  work  of  sanctification.  This  is  begun  in  con- 
version, but  completed  in  a  believer's  heart  by  an  a^t 
of  faith. 

It  is  God's  great  work  to  destroy  sin  in  the  heart 
and  prevent  it  in  the  life." 

^'  The  Son  of  God  was  manifested  to  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil."  "  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners."  "  He  saves  to  the  uttennost." 
He  wiU  do  it  in  the  believing  heart.  "  I  will  sprinkle 
you  with  clean  water  and  ye  shall  be  clean." 
"  Faithful  is  he  that  calleth  you  who  also  will  do  it." 
Every  Christian  in  this  house  may  receive  this  bless- 
ing now,  while  I  am  preaching,  by  complete  conse- 


t 

172       Reminiscences  of  Eai^ly  Circuit  Life. 

cration  to  God ;  an  unwavering  faith  in  the  blood  of 
Christ.  Who  will  claim  it  and  go  home  with  the 
words  of  Jesus  ringing  through  your  soul  ?  "  Blessed 
are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God." 

II.  But  notwithstanding,  this  work  is  wrought  all 
around  us.  Yet  some  are  full  of  unbelief.  "  Ye  will 
not  believe  though  a  man  declare  it  unto  you." 

God's  work  is  plain,  yet  unbelief  resists,  cavils, 
opposes.  Every  man  might  be  converted  if  he  would 
receive  the  truth  in  its  simplicity.  Some  do,  are 
saved  and  happy.  Others  reflect  and  are  hardened. 
You  despise  the  work  and  call  it  excitement ;  you 
say  the  converts  are  weak,  excited  and  fanatical. 
But  look  at  them,  thev  are  your  neighbors — men  and 
women  that  you  respect.  They  know  as  much,  many 
of  them  more  than  you  do.  They  were  once  despis- 
ers  like  yourselves,  but  God  knocked  at  the  door  of 
their  hearts  ;  they  heard  his  voice,  opened  the  door, 
asked  Him  in.  He  gave  them  light ;  they  improved 
it  and  are  saved.  Thev  know  more  now  than  thev 
ever  did  before.  They  know  God  as  a  sin-pardoning 
God.  They  know  salvation  with  all  its  joys.  I  am 
sure  you  respect  them  more  than  you  ever  did  ;  and 
when  you  lay  your  head  at  night  on  your  pillow  you 
would  give  the  world,  if  you  owned  it,  to  be  like 
them.  Why  are  you  not  converted  ?  You  have  had 
the  same  calls,  same  warning,  same  light,  same  help 
that  they  had.  AYho  is  the  weaker  ?  Thev  had 
courage  to  come  out  for  God,  while  you,  a  craven 
coward,  hid  yourself  as  Adam  did  after  he  had  fallen, 
and  cover  yourselves  with  the  fig  leaves  of  error. 


\  jmAi^MMmMism 


Aggressive  Movements, 


173 


Sin  has  made  you  a  coward,  robbed  you  of  your 
manhood,  and  sent  you  off  wandering  like  Cain,  a 
vagabond  from  the  presence  of  God. 

Why  hug  your  chains  and  cling  to  your  unbelief  ? 
Unbelief  rejects  the  atonement ;  says  it  is  too  easy, 
too  humiliating,  too  exa<Jting;  requires  self-denial, 
abandonment  of  sin  and  submission  to  God's  terms. 

III.  Look  at  the  results  of  this  unbelief,  "Behold 
ye  despisers,  and  wonder  and  perish." 

1.  Behold.  It  is  open  before  you.  Your  eyes  see 
it ;  it  is  God's  work ;  it  changes  men,  makes  them 
different ;  old  things  passed  away  and  they  become 
new  creatures — stops  their  swearing,  drinking,  Sab- 
bath-breaking, and  sinning.  They  begin  to  pray, 
read  the  Bible,  go  to  church,  become  better  men,  bet- 
ter neighbors  and  are  happy  on  the  way  to  Heaven. 

2.  Yo\i  wonder  at  the  work.  It  is  God's  work, 
what  a  change  in  these  men !  How  they  pray,  how 
they  talk  for  Jesus,  how  happy  they  are ! 

Rowland  Hill  once  said  :  "  I  would  not  give  a  fig 
for  a  man  whose  very  dog  and  cat  were  not  better 
for  his  religion."  (The  reformed  drunkard  and  his 
cat).  God's  light  has  brought  you  to  the  point :  you 
must  either  yield  or  fight  against  God.  If  you  do 
not  yield  you  wiU  soon — 

3.  Despise ;  look  upon  the  work  with  contempt. 
Despise  the  subjects,  mock  and  oppose  them ;  oppose 
your  wife,  children,  neighbors.  Stop  man !  for  God's 
sake,  stop !  You  have  gone  too  far  already,  one  step 
more  and  you'll — 

4.  Perish,     "  Because  there  is  wrath,  beware,  lest 


174       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

He  take  thee  away  with  his  stroke  and  then  a  great 
ransom  cannot  deliver  thee."  Take  this  step  and 
you  are  lost,  you  are  dammed ;  "  In  hell  you  will  lift 
up  your  eyes  being  in  torment."  You  once  hoped 
there  was  no  hell,  but  now  you'll  plow  those  fiery 
regions.  How  you'll  beg  for  one  of  those  despised 
converts  to  come  "  and  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in 
water  and  cool  your  tongue,  for  you  are  tormented 
in  this  flame."  But  there  is  a  great  gulf  between  you 
and  them,  and  there  is  no  crossing.  Don't,  I  beg  of 
you ;  don't  take  another  step.  Brethren,  help  this 
man ;  converts,  lift  up  your  prayers  to  God  for  this 
poor  sinner.  Thou  Man  of  Calvary,  send  thy  spirit 
to  his  heart ;  come,  thou  insulted  spirit,  come  and 
give  him  one  more  call.  Tsow,  when  God  is  work- 
ing, Christians  praying,  converts  weeping,  ministers 
entreating,  Jesus  pleading,  and  the  Spirit  waiting  and 
wooing,  come  to  the  Savior.  To-morrow  it  may  be 
too  late.  Every  man  and  woman  in  this  house  who 
will  o:ive  God  a  chance  to  work  a  work  in  your  hearts, 
rise  to  your  feet.  Thank  God  there  avefive — ten — 
7nore — more  yet.  Ye  need  not  one  be  left  behind,  for 
God  hath  bidden  all  mankind.  Xow  at  the  close  of 
this  meeting  let  all  who  arose,  and  every  candid,  seri- 
ous person  who  wishes  to  be  instructed  in  the  way  of 
life,  and  commended  to  God  in  prayer,  repair  to  the 
inquiry  meeting  in  the  school  house,  a  few  rods  from 
this  place. 


|lJn»iMAiai#ii]n"iiir  iiftiiiMimTMiiiiiffift 


Opposition  Poiverless. 


«0 


CHAPTER  XII. 


opposrriox  powerless. 


|X  closing  the  meeting  at  the  cider  mill,  one  of  the 
ministers  remarked  that  he  regretted  that  the 
preacher  had  left  the  work  of  regeneration  out 
of  his  sermon,  as  that  was  the  most  essential  point 
in  the  work  that  God  was  working ;  all  else  was  of 
little  importance,  and  if  the  people  would  go  to  the 
inquiry  meeting,  they  would  be  instructed  in  that 
doctrine. 

I  said  very  kindly  that  my  dear  brother,  being 
worn  out  with  anxiety,  must  have  dropped  asleep, 
for  while  I  was  preaching  the  congregation  was 
aware  that  I  spent  at  least  ten  minutes  on  conversion 
and  sanctification,  which  involved  the  glorious  doc- 
trine of  regeneration.  But  I  preferred  to  use  the 
terms  most  frequently  used  in  the  Scriptures  to 
represent  it. 

Or  more  likely  he  was  so  earnest  in  prayer  for 
souls,  that  he  did  not  notice  what  every  one  else 
heard  and  remembered.  But  I  joined  most  cordially 
in  the  invitation  to  all  to  repair  to  the  inquiry  meet- 
ing, that  we  might  all  be  instructed  in  regeneration. 
The  school  house  was  filled ;  most  of  them  were 
asking  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.     Some  were 


176       Reminiscences  of  Early  Oircidi  Life. 

caviling,  ready  for  an  argument,  whilst  others 
were  indifferent,  moved  only  by  curiosity.  The 
order  of  the  meeting  was  that  two  of  the  ministers 
were  to  go  among  the  people  on  one  side  of  the 
house,  and  two  on  the  other,  inquiring  into  their 
state  of  mind,  and  giving  them  counsel. 

"We  started  out,  and  I  found  manv  readv  to  enter 
into  the  Kingdom  of  God.  I  directed  all  such  to 
kneel  down  and  call  upon  God  for  mercy,  and  called 
five  or  six  earnest  Methodist  men,  mighty  in  prayer, 
to  direct  their  faith  aud  pray  for  their  salvation. 
Every  penitent  I  found,  I  took  to  that  part  of  the 
house — these  praying  men  had  got  hold  of  God  with 
a  Jacob  grasp, — and  several  of  the  awakened  were 
struggling,  "  with  strong  crying  and  tears,"  for 
deliverance  from  their  sins.  The  struggle  was 
becoming  intense.  I  knew  such  faith  would  win, 
and  was  expecting  every  moment  to  hear  the  halle- 
hijahs  of  the  saved.  But  just  at  this  point  I  felt  a 
strong  hand  grasp  my  arm,  and  lookmg  around  I 
saw  the  elder  standing  near  me  with  a  troubled 
countenance.  I  inquired,  ''  What  is  it  \ "  He  said, 
'"Those  men  who  are  praying  in  the  center  of  the 
house  make  so  much  noise  that  it  confuses  us,  and 
they  must  either  stop  or  we  must."  I  replied  that 
the  interest  of  the. meeting  centered  there;  and  I 
had  been  thinking  for  some  minutes  that  we  ought 
to  go  and  help  them.  But  he  thought  if  I  would 
only  go  and  stop  them,  they  would  take  it  kindly ; 
but  if  he  attempted  it  they  might  regard  it  as  oppo- 
sition.    I  told  him  that  God  was  working  a  work 


Ojyj^osition  Powerless. 


177 


of  conversion  in  the  hearts  of  those  penitents,  and  I 
dare  not  interfere  with  His  order." 

I  would  as  soon  think  of  separating  Jacob  and  the 
angel  in  their  all  night  struggle,  as  to  break  the 
grasp  of  these  penitents  and  their  helpers  on  God, 
but  as  he  had  charge  of  the  meeting  he  must  do 
what  he  thought  was  ]>roper.  But  he  insisted  that 
I  should  go  and  reyulate  them.  In  the  spirit  of 
obedience  I  started,  and  believing  the  best  way  to 
"  regulate  "  that  meeting  was  to  help  them  through, 
I  fell  on  my  knees  and  joined  my  prayer  with  theii^ 
that  God  would  make  a  clean  sweep  by  bringing 
every  penitent  into  the  Kingdom  of  His  grace. 

Soon  the  bursting  praise  began  to  arise  from  one 
and  then  another,  and  another,  until  several  were 
gloriously  converted.  Oh  I  what  shouts  of  praise — 
"  Glory  to  God "  and  "  hallelujahs "  rang  through 
that  house ;  the  dead  were  alive  and  the  lost  were 
found. 

I  went  over  to  where  the  elders  were  sitting  and 

said,  "  Brother  ,  I  really  believe  these  men  are 

regenerated.''^ 

The  elder  said  it  was  time  to  commence  the  meet- 
ing at  the  cider  mill,  and  asked  me  to  close  the 
meeting.  But  I  told  him  I  could  as  easily  close  the 
meeting  of  the  angels,  who  were  now  rejoicing  over 
the  conversions  of  these  repenting  sinners,  as  to 
close  this  meeting  so  jubilant  with  joy. 

The  other  ministers  left  for  the  afternoon  meeting, 

while  the  elder  and  myself  remained  with  the  happy 

companv  whom  God  had  "  regulated.''''     At  a  proper 

12 


178       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

» 

time  I  called  upon  all  present  to  join  in  the  doxology 
of  praise  for  this  great  victory,  and  then  we  would 
all  go  to  the  other  meeting. 

The  elder  and  myself  went  to  Deacon  Doren's  for 
a  lunch,  which  we  found  on  the  table,  the  family 
having  gone  to  the  cider  mill.  AVhile  hurriedly  par- 
taking of  the  refreshments,  the  elder  said :  "  I 
want  you  to  preach  at  the  school  house  this  after- 
noon." "  But,"I  said,  "  there  is  no  appointment,  the 
people  have  all  gone  to  the  orchard  and  there  is  no 
one  near  the  school  house."  He  insisted  that  I 
should  preach,  saying,  there  would  be  some  stroll- 
ing round  that  would  come  in  and  hear  me.  I  saw 
that  he  meant  to  keep  me  from  the  large  meeting, 
and  said  :  "  Well,  elder,  when  I  came  to  help  you  I 
promised  to  bring  water,  gather  chips,  or  blow  the 
fire  and  do  everything  you  told  me  to  do  ;  and  so  I'll 
go  to  the  school  house  and  preach,  if  I  have  to 
preach  to  the  empty  seats."  So  we  started,  he  for 
the  orchard  and  I  for  the  school  house.  On  my  way 
I  met  Capt.  Sherman,  and  he  inquired,  why  L  was 
not  at  the  meeting.  I  endeavored  to  evade  the 
question,  but  he  insisted  on  knowing  where  I  was 
going.  I  told  him  that  the  elder  had  sent  me  to 
preach  at  the  school  house ;  but  he  said,  "  the  house 
is  shut  and  no  one  near,  the  people  have  all  gone  out 
of  sight  into  the  orchard,  and  you  will  not  have  a 
single  hearer."  I  said,  "  it  is  the  part  of  a  good 
soldier  to  obey,  and  I  am  going  to  do  just  what  the 
eldor  bid  me  do."     So  we  separated. 

I  opened  my  meeting  by  singing ; 


Opposition  Poicerless. 


179 


"  O  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing 
My  great  Kedeemer's  praise." 

During  the  prayer  and  reading  the  Scriptures  the 
people  came  in  crowds,  filling  the  house,  and  hun- 
dreds standing  around  the  door  and  windows.  There 
were  multitudes  to  join  in  singing  the  second  hymn. 

After  Capt.  Sherman  left  me,  he  told  some  people 
Avho  stood  in  the  outskirts  of  the  congregation,  "  Mr. 
E.  is  going  to  preach  immediately  at  the  school 
house,"  and  it  was  whispered  outside  and  inside 
of  the  cider  mill,  and  the  people  came  flocking  to  the 
school  house,  leaving  only  thirty  there,  as  I  was 
afterwards  informed. 

I  was  sincerely  sorry  that  so  many  came  from  the 
orchard,  but  the  responsibility  was  not  on  me.  I 
fuUv  believe  to  this  dav  that  if  the  elder  had  acted 
fairlv  and  brotherlv,  it  would  have  been  better  for 
his  church  and  for  the  cause  of  God. 

During  the  singing  men  removed  the  windows, 
fixing  a  platform  in  one  of  the  windows  where  I  could 
stand  so  that  all  could  see  and  hear.  The  heat  being 
severe  I  laid  off  my  coat,  vest  and  cravat,  (a  thing 
not  uncommon  for  ministers  to  do  in  that  day,)  and 
lifting  up  a  prayer  from  my  heart  for  divine  aid, 
announced  for  my  text  the  prayer  of  sinking  Peter, 
"  Lord  save  me."  God  gave  me  unusual  liberty  and 
made  His  word  *'  quick  and  powerful,  and  sharper 
than  a  two-edo^ed  sword."  It  cut  both  wavs  even 
"  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit  and  of  the 
joints  and  marrow."     The  Holy  Ghost  was  doing  his 


180       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

office  work  among  the  people,  and  men  cried  aloud 
for  mercy. 

We  invited  all  who  felt  themselves  sinking  in  the 
waters  of  sin  and  would  cry  to  Jesus,  w4io  stood  with 
outstretched  arms  on  the  billows  ready  to  save  them, 
arise  to  their  feet  in  the  house  and  those  standing 
outside  to  hold  up  their  hands  long  enough  to  have 
brethren  count  the  number  that  we  miglit  pray  for 
them.     Over  fifty  were  reported. 

I  stated  that  Bro.  King  had  announced  that  he 
would  resume  the  meeting  at  Buck's  Chapel  one  week 
from  the  time  he  adjourned  it,  but  it  had  been  post- 
poned one  week  longer,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with 
the  Baptist  meeting  ;  and  so  I  would  preach  at  Col- 
umbia that  evening,  at  the  Houghton  school  house 
Monday  evening,  at  the  Lock  wood  school  house 
Tuesday  evening  and  at  Buck's  Cha}>el  on  Wednes- 
day evening  to  the  converts.  The  meetings  after 
that  would  be  as  Providence  might  direct. 

At  all  these  points  we  found  deep  conviction  and 
some  were  blessed  at  each  meeting. 

liuck's  chapel  was  crowded  Wednesday  evening 
and  the  converts  were  out  en,  masse.  One  of  the 
Baptist  ministers  was  present,  having  closed  their 
meeting  at  Doren's.  I  preached  to  the  converts  as 
announced,  from  I  John  iii,  14,  "  We  know  that  we 
have  passed  from  death  unto  life  because  we  love  the 
brethren."  I  dwelt  on  the  great  change  ''  from  death 
unto  life,"  and  the  evidence  of  this  change.  We  had 
a  happy  time  and  the  testimonies  that  followed  were 


Opj)08  it  ion  Po  werless. 


181 


clear,  scriptural,  and  triumphant.  Before  closing,  I 
opened  the  door  of  the  church,  explaining  in  brief 
what  we  believed.  All  who  wished  to  be  Metho- 
dists, wiio  would  attend  class  and  prayer-meeting 
weeklv  as  far  as  thev  were  able,  who  would  renounce 
sin,  fight  the  devil,  take  up  their  daily  cross,  do  all 
they  could  to  save  souls  and  live  holy  lives,  were  in- 
cited to  unite  with  us.  But  if  there  were  any  who 
were  not  clear  in  their  minds  that  our  church  was 
their  home  I  advised  them  to  w^ait  and  investigate 
the  matter  thoroughly,  for  we  did  not  want  any 
vacillation  in  the  matter. 

All  w^ho  w^ere  in  sympathy  with  us  would  now 
come  to  the  altar.  They  came  from  all  parts  of  the 
house,  crowding  around  the  altar  two  rows  deep. 
The  audience  singing  in  the  spirit,  the  convert's 
hymn : 

"  O  happy  are  they, 
Who  their  Savior  obey  ; 
And  have  laid  up  their  treasures  above  : 
Tongue  can  never  express 
The  sweet  comfort  and  peace 
Of  a  soul  in  its  earliest  love,"  etc. 

And  w^hile  we  were  singing  it,  I  invited  the  class 
leaders  and  some  of  the  brethren  to  come  into  the 
altar  and  join  me  in  giving  the  right  hand  of-  fellows- 
ship  SLiid  welcoming  these  new  converts  into  a  pro- 
bationary relationship  with  the  church. 

Just  as  we  commenced  singing,  some  eight  or  ten 
of  the  converts  who  did  not  present  themselves  at 
the  altar  came  down  the  aisle  weeping,  some  of  them 


182       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

sobbing  as  if  their  hearts  would  break,  and  went  out 
into  the  vestibule.  Some  of  their  Christian  friends 
followed  tliem. 

After  the  ceremonies  at  the  altar  were  ended  and 
the  con«:re<J:ation  were  sint^ino^,  I  was  summoned  to 
the  vestibule  for  an  interview  with  the  weeping  con- 
verts there.  I  found  they  were  all  from  Baptist 
families.  They  said  that  our  Church  was  tlieir  home ; 
tltey  could  join  with  no  other  ;  they  wished  to  unite 
with  the  otlier  converts,  but  had  not  consulted  their 
parents  and  did  not  know  what  duty  required. 

I  said  to  them  :  "  I  think  you  did  just  right  in  not 
coming  forward  to-night,  but  waiting  until  you 
could  acquaint  your  parents  with  your  wishes. 
Though  I  perceive  that  you  have  all  reached  your 
majority  and  are  legally  free  from  their  control,  yet 
so  long  as  you  remain  with  them  and  are  dependent 
upon  them,  Christian  courtesy  and  filial  love  will  lead 
you  to  acquaint  them  with  your  wishes  and  purposes 
and  ask  their  blessing  upon  you.  I  will  give  another 
opportunity  for  your  accommodation  to-morrow  even- 
ing. In  the  meantime  you  can  converse  with  your 
parents." 

At  the  request  of  four  of  them  I  consented  to  call 
at  their  homes  the  next  day  and  open  the  subject  to 
their  families,  so  it  was  amicably  adjusted,  and  they 
all  united  the  next  evening. 

"While  visiting  one  of  the  converts,  whose  wife  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  the  next  morning 
after  so  many  united  on  probation.  Elder  T.  drove  up. 
He  was  verv  much  excited  and  beci^an  at  once  to 


Opposition  Powerless. 


183 


denounce  me  as  a  sectarian,  accusing  me  of  pulling 
down  their  church  to  build  up  my  own,  etc.  I  strove 
to  soothe  him,  but  my  efforts  only  enraged  him  the 
more.  So  I  remained  quiet,  giving  him  an  opportu- 
nity to  effervesce.  He  was  very  abusive  and  unrea- 
sonably severe.  After  bearing  his  upbraidings  for 
some  time,  I  said :  "  Elder,  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  so 
ano-rv  this  morning ;  your  passions  have  dethroned 
your  reason  and  you  are  laying  the  foundation  for 
repentence  and  mortification.  Let  us  calmly  look  at 
the  matter  in  a  Christian  spirit  and  see  where  the 
blame  lies.  If  in  anything  I  have  varied  from  the 
strict  line  of  Christian  principle  and  fraternal  cour- 
tesv,  I  will  most  fuUv  make  the  amende  honorable. 

Let  us  look  the  ground  over.  When  you  came  to 
our  meeting  did  we  not  receive  you  as  a  brother  and 
give  you  every  opportunity  to  labor  as  a  minister  ?" 
"  Yes."  "When  we  adjourned  the  meeting  to  go  to 
the  Rapids,  did  we  not  promise  to  return  in  a  week 
and  resume  the  meeting  again  ? "  "  Certainly  you 
did." 

"  Was  it  proper  for  you  without  consulting  Brother 
Kinof,  who  had  treated  vou  with  brotherlv  kindness 
and  confidence,  to  make  arrangements  to  draw  the 
congregation  from  our  chapel  to  Doren's  school  house, 
onlv  a  mile  distant,  when  our  meeting  was  to  be 
kept  up  by  the  class  leaders  until  we  could  return  ? ' 
"I  had  aright  to  hold  meetings  when  I  pleased." 
"  You  had  no  moral  right  to  trample  down  all  prin- 
ciples of  comity  and  fraternal  regard.  Did  I  not 
show  your  church  great  respect  and  Christian  affec- 


184       Rendmscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

tiou  when  I  came  to  help  you,  instead  of  resum- 
ing our  meetings  at  the  chapel  as  we  expected  to  do  F 
"  Why  yes,  I  think  you  did."  "  Did  you  not  receive 
me  coolly  and  try  to  embarrass  me  among  the  peo- 
ple ?  Please  give  me  an  honest  answer." 
*'  It  depends  upon  what  you  call  cool." 
"  Did  you  not  mean  to  weaken  my  influence  with 
the  congregation  when  you  said  I  had  '  left  out  of 
my  sermon  the  work  of  regeneration,'  when  you 
knew  that  I  had  dwelt  upon  it  at  least  ten  minutes 
under  the  head  of  conversion  and  sanctification  ?" 
"  You  did  not  use  the  word  regeneration."  "  That  is 
a  mere  quibble.  Did  you"  not  mean  to  insult  and 
keep  me  out  of  the  meeting  in  the  cider  mill  when 
you  sent  me  to  preach  to  an  empty  school  house, 
when  you  thought  every  person  was  in  the  orchard 
and  out  of  sight  of  it  ?  Xow,  Elder,  you  are  not  the 
man  to  come  here  in  anger  and  give  me  a  lecture  on 
Christian  propriety.  You  have  read  the  expressive 
lines  of  Scotland's  favorite  bard : 

"  O  wad  some  power  the  giftie  gie  us, 
To  see  oursels  as  ithers  see  us  : 
It  wad  fra  monie  a  blunder  free  us, 
And  foolish  notion." 

While  I  regret  your  want  of  prudence,  I  sympathize 
with  your  disappointment  and  trust  you  have  learned 
a  lesson  from  this  painful  ordeal."  The  Elder  went 
home  a  more  sober  and  a  wiser  man. 

After  leaving  the  Baptist  meeting,  I  wrote  Brother 
K.,  giving  him  a  list  of  the  appointments  and  urging 
him  to  be  at  Buck's  chapel  on  Wednesday  evening 


Opposition  Powerless, 


185 


I 


without  fail ;  but  received  an  answer  informing  me 
that  he  had  sustained  a  severe  injury  in  breaking 
three  of  his  ribs  and  that  it  was  impossible  for  him 
to  leave  the  house  and  that  I  must  go  on  alone. 

Our  meeting  continued   successfully  through  the 
week  and  souls  were  converted  daily.     Sabbath  was 
to  be  my  last  day  with  this  dear  people  as  I  must 
return  to  my   circuit  the   following   week.      Rev. 
Benjamin  S.  Paddock  and  Eev.  Albon  M.  Smith 
providentially  came  to  my  aid  and  we  had  a  glorious 
day.    The  love  feast  was  one  of  wondrous  power. 
Brother  Paddock  was  a  verv  sweet  singer,  as  his  old 
friends  will  remember.     He  took  charge  of  the  meet- 
ing and  added  much  to  the  interest  by  his  counsel, 
experience,  and  singing.     The  spirit  of  the  meeting 
was  beyond  description ;  grand,  glorious  and  over- 
whelming.    God's  w-orkers  were  jubilant,  as  conquer- 
ing heroes  flushed   with  victory.       The  testimonies 
were  triumphant,  giving  all  the  glory  to  "  God  and 
the  Lamb."      The  converts    were  in   the  land  of 
Beulah,  amid  blooming  flowers,   trees  of  life  and 
birds  of    Paradise,   breathing    the    atmosphere  of 
Heaven,  and  drinking  from  the  river  of  life  as  it 
flowed  from  the  threshhold  of  the  throne.     My  own 
soul  was  redolent  with  love.      I  had  passed  through 
the  wilderness,  tented   at  "Marah"  and  drank  its 
bitter  waters,  but  led  by  the  cloudy  pillar  had  now 
pitched  my  tent  at  "  Elim,"  amid  shady  palms  and 
refreshing  fountains. 

We  have  many  exquisite  singers  now,  with  well 
trained,  warbling  voices,  that  will  hold  an  audience 


186       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

spell-bound  as  in  a  trance ;  but  they  cannot  move 
and  thrill  us  as  they  did  them.  Take  a  larofe  con- 
gregation  of  those  old  Methodists  full  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  let  them  sing  some  animating,  spiritual 
hymn,  consonant  with  their  feelings,  in  all  its  parts, 
bass,  tenor,  alto  and  treble,  and  it  would  produce  an 
overwhelming  effect. 

I  ha\re  never  known  it  to  unroof  the  house,  but  I 
have  known  it  to  make  strong  men  tremble,  weep, 
shout,  fall,  and  stir  their  emotions  like  the  waves  of 
the  ocean  in  a  'mighty  storm.  In  that  love  feast. 
Brother  P.  sang  the  following  hymn,  which  was 
very  popular  in  that  day ;  the  whole  audience  joined 
with  him  lustily : 

"  Hail  the  day  so  long  expected, 
Hail  the  year  of  full  release ; 
Zion's  walls  are  now  erected, 

And  the  watchmen  live  in  peace. 
From  the  distant  courts  of  Zion 
The  shrill  trumpet  loudly  roars. 
Chorus: 

Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen,  is  fallen, 
Babylon  is  fallen  to  rise  no  more. 

"  Hark  and  hear  the  people  crying, 
See,  the  city  disappears  ; 
Trade  and  traffic  all  are  dying, 

Lo !  they  sink  to  rise  no  more ! 
Merchants  who  have  bought  her  traffic 
Crying  from  a  distant  shore, 

Babylon  is  fallen,  etc. 

"  All  her  merchants  cry  with  wonder. 
What  is  this  that  comes  to  pass  ? 
ISIurmuring  like  some  distant  thunder  ; 


Oppos Ition  Pov-'e rless. 


187 


Crving  O  alas !  alas ! 
Swell  the  sound  ye  kings  and  nobles, 
Priests  and  people,  rich  and  poor. 

Babvlon  is  fallen,  etc. 

"  Lo,  the  captives  are  returning. 
Up  to  Zion  see  them  fly ; 
While  the  heavenly  host  rejoices, 

Shout  them  welcome  through  the  sky ; 
See  the  ancients  of  the  city 
Territied  at  the  uproar. 

Babvlon  is  fallen,  etc. 

"  Tune  your  harps,  ye  heavenly  choir. 
Shout,  ye  followers  of  the  Lamb ; 
See  the  city  all  on  fire ; 

Clap  your  hands  and  blow  the  flame  ; 
Now's  the  day  of  compensation, 
Hope  of  mercy  now  is  o'er. 

Babvlon  is  fallen,  etc." 

The  effect  was  overwhelming ;  saints  shouted,  sin- 
ners wept  and  trembled.  The  love  feast  closed 
grandly  with  a  hallelujah  chorus.  Souls  were  con- 
verted in  all  the  meetings  that  day,  converts  estab- 
lished, and  the  church  strengthened.  I  had  a  tender 
leave  taking  with  the  brethren  and  converts  that 
evening ;  I  formed  a  strong  attachment  to  tliat  place 
and  people,  and  it  was  hard  separating. 

"  When  we  asunder  part 
It  gives  us  inward  pain. 
But  we  shall  still  be  joined  in  heart, 
And  hope  to  meet  again." 

I  went  from  Buck's  Bridge  to  Long  Rapids,  and 
spent  an  evening  there.     Found  the  society  in   a 


18S       Berniniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

flourishing  condition.  They  had  kept  up  their  meet- 
ings nearly  every  evening  during  our  absence  of  ten 
days,  and  the  revival  spirit  was  still  rife  among 
them.  The  converts  were  firm  and  devoted,  active 
and  efficient  in  the  work.  It  is  remarkable  what  a 
change  a  revival  produces  in  a  place  ;  old  professors, 
from  being  cold  and  formal  are  quickened  into  life, 
their  zeal  is  inflamed,  their  hearts  warmed,  their 
steps  accelerated,  and  they  are  ready  to  do  and 
dare  for  Christ.  Xo  sacrifice  is  too  great  to  be  made, 
and  both  time  and  means  are  cheerfully  consecrated 
to  the  furtherance  of  the  cause. 

Men  and  women,  old  and  young,  who  but  a  few 
days  ago  would  not  be  seen  in  a  social  meeting,  are 
now  thronging  the  place  of  prayer,  and  drunkards, 
blasphemers,  and  Sabbath  breakers  have  become 
steady,  reverent,  and  devout.  Those  who  spent  their 
time  in  "revelry  and  wanton  mirth,"  now  find 
supreme  joy  in  h^Tiins  of  praise,  and  prayer,  and 
Christian  service;  as  in  the  days  of  the  apostles, 
*'  They  continued  daily  with  one  accord  in  the  tem- 
ple, and  breaking  bread  from  house  to  house,  did  eat 
their  meat  with  gladness  and  singleness  of  heart." 
May  this  become  the  normal  condition  of  the  church. 
Then  it  will  be  "endowed  with  power  from  on 
high,"  overcome  the  world,  and  shine  in  millennial 
glory. 

Such  a  change  was  now  witnessed  in  this  place. 
True,  sin  still  stalked  abroad  with  brazen  face,  and 
opposition  was  bold  and  defiant,  but  God's  people 
were  courageous  and  decided,  "  bold  to  take  up,  firm 


Opposition  I*o irerhf<s. 


189 


to  sustain  the  consecrated  cross."  Thev  had  trained 
a  standing  in  the  community,  and  were  bound  to 
maintain  it. 

A  Christian  life  in  those  days  required  that  we 
"  cease  to  do  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well."  No  one 
thought  of  carrying  their  sinful  pleasures  or  worldly 
spirit  into  the  narrow  way.  A  favorite  Mnnn  with 
the  converts  was : 

"  When  I  set  out  for  glory, 
I  left  the  world  behind ; 
Determined  for  a  city 
That's  out  of  sight  to  find. 

Chorus — And  to  glory  I  \nll  go, 
And  to  glory  I  will  go, 
I'll  go,  I'll  go,  I'll  go, 
And  to  glory  I  will  go. 

"  I  left  my  worldly  honors, 
I  left  my  worldly  fame ; 
I  left  my  young  companions. 
And  ■v^'ith  them  my  good  name. 

Ajid  to  glory  I  will  go,  etc." 

One  of  the  converts,  a  man  of  middle  age,  who 
previously  had  been  a  fiddler,  delighting  in  the  revel 
and  the  dance,  had  sold  his  old  fiddle  to  a  neighbor 
and  ordered  a  new  one  just  before  his  conversion. 
His  love  of  music  had  led  him  into  o^ayetv  and  dis- 
sipation,  and  in  counting  the  cost  of  a  spiritual  life, 
he  saw  that  he  must  abandon  sin  in  everv  form, 
cross  the  river  of  decision  and  destroy  the  bridcre 
behind  him.  So,  knowing  the  charm  the  violin  had 
for  him,  and  fearing  that  the  touch  might  be  a  tem}> 
tation  to  use  the  bow,  he  slipped  a  noose  over  the 


190       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circicit  Life. 

head  of  the  instrument  and,  by  a  string,  drew  it  over 
to  his  neighbor  s  saying  \yith  a  tearful  face,  "  I  have 
brought  your  violin,  but  I  was  afraid  to  touch  it  lest 

1  might  be  tempted  to  play  and  return  to  the  old 
ways."  "  How  superstitious  I  "  we  exclaim ;  but  the 
man  knew  his  weakness  and  thought  it  better  to 
appear  ridiculous  than  to  tamper  to  his  injury.  He 
recalled  his  order  for  the  new  violin,  and  lived  a 
Christian  life.  In  him  was  fulfilled  the  promise, 
"From  all  your  lilthiness  and  from  all  your  idols 
will  I  cleanse  you." 

A  lady  was  converted  at  the  meeting  in  Long 
Kapids  who  lived  a  few  miles  distant  on  the  turnpike 
leading  from  Canton  to  Ogdensburg.  She  brought 
me  a  very  pressing  invitation  from  the  neighborhood 
w^here  she  lived,  to  come  and  hold  at  least  one  meet- 
ing with  them  before  I  left.  She  pleaded  most 
earnestly  for  the  meeting  and  as  I  could  remain  just 
one  day  longer,  and  the  people  of  that  community 
were  not  Christians,  except  the  lady  who  had  just 
been  converted  and  one  or  two  members  of  her 
family,  I  felt  strongly  inclined  to  respond  to  their 
"  Macedonian  cry,"  and  go  to  their  help.  So  I  told 
her  that  she  might  give  out  an  appointment  for 

2  o'clock  the  next  afternoon,  and.  Providence  per- 
mitting' I  would  be  there.  Thev  sent  bovs  on  horse- 
back  through  the  settlement,  giving  notice  of-  the 
meeting,  and  when  I  reached  the  place  the  large 
school  house  was  crowded,  and  several  standing 
around  the  doors  and  windows.  •'  For  the  word  of 
tlie  Lord  was  precious  in  those  days." 


Opposition  Powerless. 


191 


I  took  for  a  text,  Dan.  vi.  10 :  "  Now  when 
Daniel  knew  that  the  writing  was  signed,  he  went 
into  the  house,  and  his  window  being  opened  in  his 
chamber  towards  Jerusalem,  he  kneeled  upon  his 
knees  three  times  a  day  and  prayed;  gave  thanks 
before  his  God  as  he  did  aforetime."  DanieFs  God 
was  with  us,  and  strong  men  and  women  trembled 
before  him.  When  the  invitation  was  given  to  all 
who  would  take  the  God  of  Daniel  to  be  their  God, 
to  arise,  every  one  in  the  congregation,  great  and 
small,  arose.  There  was  no  one  to  pray  but  myself, 
but  falling  on  our  knees  we  cried  mightily  unto  God. 
After  praying  five  or  six  times  my  strength  began  to 
fail.  I  was  in  doubt  what  to  do.  There  we  knelt 
upon  om'  knees  ;  the  weeping  congregation  was  not 
inclined  to  rise,  and  my  voice  was  hoai'se  and 
labored. 

But  "man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity." 
Two  elect  ladies  of  the  church,  seventy  miles  from 
their  homes,  journeying  in  a  gig  westward — Mrs. 
Alma  ^Yright  and  Miss  Jane  Smith,  both  from 
Xorth  Chateaugay — hearing  the  voice  of  pleading 
prayer,  hitched  their  horse  and  came  in.  I  recog- 
nized them,  having  met  them  two  or  three  times  at 
quarterly  meetings,  while  I  was  a  student  in  the 
academy.  Oh,  what  a  Godsend  !  I  explained  the 
state  of  things  to  them,  and  how  they  prayed  I  For 
an  hour  or  more  these  women  took  the  kingdom  as 
by  storm,  and  God  answered  prayer  by  converting 
several  of  the  penitents. 

The  two  women   were    in  their  gig  about  six 


192       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

o'clock  and  on  their  way  to  Ogdensburg.  I  had 
scarcely  time  to  thank  them  for  their  timely  aid. 
The  next  year  I  was  their  pastor,  and  they  often 
reminded  me  of  "the  weeping  meeting  in  the 
woods."  This  meeting  held  four  hours,  and  was 
happy  in  its  results. 

Two  or  three  years  afterwards  Canton  was  made 
a  station,  and  I  was  appointed  to  it.  This  neighbor- 
hood was  one  of  my  out  appointments,  with  a  good 
class  of  members ;  most  of  them  were  the  fruits  of 
that  afternoon  meeting. 

I  rode  to  Canton  village  that  evening,  to  the  par- 
sonage, and  after  a  good  visit  and  a  restful  night, 
was  in  the  saddle  at  earlv  morn,  en  route  for  mv 
own  loved  field  of  labor,  singing  with  a  joyous 
heart: 


(< 


No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess, 
No  cottage  in  the  wilderness, 

A  poor  wayfaring  man  ; 
1  lodge  awhile  in  tents  below 
And  gladly  wander  to  and  fro, 

Till  I  my  Canaan  gain. 

"  I  have  no  babes  to  hold  me  here, 
But  children  more  securely  dear, 

For  mme  I  humldy  claim. 
Better  than  daughters,  or  than  sons. 
Temples  divine  of  living  stenes 
Inscribed  with  Jesus'  name." 


■:^h«. 


All  Things   Woi'hing  for  Good.  193 


CHAPTEPw  XIII. 


ALL   THINGS    WORKING   FOR   GOOD. 


OME  is  a  charming  word.  It  stirs  the  warm 
pulsations  of  the  sailor's  heart  while  rocking 
upon  the  heaving  billows,  or  restless  in  a  lin- 
gering calm.  It  is  a  talisman  to  the  soldier  on  the 
tented  field  or  weary  march,  and  brightens  the 
traveler's  hope  while  wandering  in  foreign  lands. 

Home  lifts  the  weary  itinerant's  heart  to  heaven, 
the  end  of  toil  and  privation — the  sweet  rest  above. 
And  vet  the  wide  circuit  where  he  makes  his  wearv 
rounds,  breasts  the  drifting  snow  of  winter  and  the 
drenching  rains  of  summer,  enduring  hardships  and 
trials,  has  for  him  a  charm. 

Here  he  has  gathered  souls  for  Christ,  comforting 
mourning  pilgrims,  and  helped  the  halting  on  to 
Ood.  Here  he  has  enioved  the  ministrv  of  the 
good,  the  prayers  of  the  pious,  and  the  blessing  of 
poor  and  lowly. 

Home  is  where  the  heart  is,  and  his  heart  is  in 

the  vineyard  where  God  leads  him  to  preach  and 

pray;  to  suffer  and  triumph  in  the  Master's  work. 

And  so  I  reached  Gouverneur  circuit  with  gladness 

of  heart.    I  found  the  brethren  pushing  on  heaven- 

13 


194      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

ward,  the  converts  warm  in  their  first  love,  and  the 
waving:  fields  readv  for  the  harvest. 

The  conference  year  was  near  its  close.  My  time 
must  soon  expire,  and  what  I  could  do  for  deathless 
spirits  must  be  done  quickly.  The  preachers  were 
men  of  one  work— to  save  souls.  They  had  a  pas- 
sion for  souls.  It  was  like  a  consuming  fire  burning 
within  them ;  "  warning  every  man,  teaching  every 
man  in  all  wisdom,  that  we  might  present  every 
man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus." 

We  began  another  meeting  at  Pikes'  school  house. 
The  one  the  year  before  was  successful  and  its  fruit 
remained.  But  the  preacher  in  charge  believed  the 
field  was  ready  for  another  harvest.  Infidelity  had 
received  a  deadly  wound  in  the  former  conflict, 
and  no  opposition  was  now  made  from  that  quarter, 
but  lukewarmness  and  apathy  confronted  us.  A 
minister  would  rather  meet  error  and  opposition  in 
an  open  field  and  fair  fight,  than  to  contend  with 
supineness  and  laxity  in  the  church. 

WeU  might  the  Master  say :  "  I  would  that  ye 
were  either  cold  or  hot."  Lukewarmness  is  offensive 
to  God.  But  warm  hearts  will  take  the  field.  When 
ministers  and  members  have  "  hot "  hearts  they  are 
more  than  a  match  for  the  devil.  "  The  love  of  Christ 
constraineth  me,"  said  Paul ;  that  is,  it  lifts  me  up 
and  presses  me  on  to  rescue  the  perishing  and  snatch 
them  from  the  verge  of  hell.  "  We  want  men  of  hot 
hearts  here  to  save  souls,"  wrote  a  Chinese  convert 
to  the  Missionary  Board.  Yes,  this  is  the  demand 
everywhere ;  men  of  hot  hearts  to  take  the  world  for 


All  Things   Working  for  Good,  195 

Christ.  How  humiliating  to  hold  a  four  days'  meet- 
ing and  spend  three  days  in  bringing  the  church  into 
working  order.  So  we  found  it  there.  "  But  my 
word  is  a  hammer  and  a  fire^^  saith  the  Lord ;  and 
God's  hammer  broke  the  stony  hearts,  and  his  fire 
melted  and  purified  them.  We  had  a  successful 
meeting  ;  thirty  or  forty  were  converted,  the  church 
quickened  and  strengthened. 

We  made  a  round  or  two  on  the  circuit,  set  things 
in  order  and  then  held  one  more  meeting  at  a  central 
point.  It  was  an  earnest  contest  with  error  and  open 
sin,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of  a  goodly  number  of 
precious  souls. 

We  found  the  circuit  on  our  last  round  in  a 
healthy,  vigorous  state ;  finances  improved,  the  offi- 
cial members  in  good  spirits,  and  religion  prosperous. 

It  is  surprising  what  a  little  thing  will  divert  the 
attention,  or  produce  mirthfulness  in  the  house  of 
God.  I  have  known  the  fluttering  of  a  bird  through 
the  house  to  attract  the  attention  of  a  whole  congre- 
gation and  draw  their  minds  from  a  solemn  appeal 
or  a  conclusive  argument,  which  had  but  a  few  mo- 
ments before,  deeply  impressed  them. 

I  witnessed  a  ludicrous  scene  in  one  of  the  meet- 
ings on  the  circuit  during  a  powerful  revival.  The 
house  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  It  was  a 
season  of  intense  interest ;  God's  people  were  earnest 
in  prayer.  The  sermon  was  solemn  and  impressive ; 
many  were  pricked  to  the  heart,  tears  were  faUing, 
sighs  and  groans  heaved  many  a  bosom.  It  looked 
like  a  general  "  break  down  ;"  and  to  the  eye  of  faith 


196       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

it  seemed  as  if  in  a  few  minutes,  men  and  women 
would  be  on  their  knees  crying  for  mercy.      Just  in 
front  of  the  pulpit  stood  a  group  of  people  of  differ- 
ent ages,  sizes  and  sexes,  among  them  a  young  lady 
dressed  in  the  height  of  fashion.     The  fabric  of  her 
dress  was  a  rustling  gingham,  very  fashionable  at 
that  time.     It  was  made  with  ''  mutton  leg"  sleeves 
in  the  most  approved  style.     Kattan  hoops  and  quilt- 
ed feathers  were  used  to  inflate  the  sleeves  between 
the  elbow  and  shoulder.     A  styHsh  sleeve  would  be 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  egg-shaped, 
tapering  more  toward  the  elbow.     For  some  reason, 
this  young  lady  had  used  willow  twigs  instead  of 
rattan.      In  the  morning,  seated  in  a  crowded  place, 
the  refractory  willows  would  get  out  of  shape,  to  the 
great  annoyance  of  the  stylish  belle.     To  obviate  the 
j>i'essure  she  chose  to  take  her  place  in  the  afternoon 
among  those  standing  in  the  aisle.     Just  behind  her 
stood  Deacon  W.,  a  grave,  venerable  old  man,  and  a 
pillar  in  the  Freewill  Baptist  church.     From  his  posi- 
tion, his  eye  naturally  rested  on  the  "  mutton  leg  " 
sleeve,  somewhat  dilapidated  by  the  jostling  of  the 
morning ;  and  it  awakened  his  curiosity  to  see  what 
it  was  made  of.     Xotwithstanding  his  interest  in  the 
service,  he  would  stretch  out  his  hand  and  take  the 
unshapely  hoop  between  his  thumb  and  finger,  and 
bend  over  the   proud  girl  to   examine   the   sleeve. 
Suddenly  checking  his  wandering  thoughts,  he  would 
quickly  let  his  hand  drop,  raise  his  form,  and  fix  his 
eyes  upon  the  minister  with  an  expression  of  coun- 
tenance that  showed  his  deep  sorrow  for  wandering 


All  Things    Working  for  Good.  197 

from  sacred  things ;  and  a  prayer  in  his  heart,  "  Turn 
away  mine  eyes  from  beholding  vanity."  Yet  such 
is  the  treachery  of  the  human  heart,  or  the  vividness 
of  the  imagination,  that  his  mind  would  inadvertant- 
ly turn  to  the  curious  sleeve,  and  again  and  again  he 
would  find  himself  inspecting  it. 

The  conduct  of  the  grave  old  Deacon  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  young  people  in  that  part  of  the 
house,  and  created  considerable  merriment.  The 
young  lady  saw  that  she  was  the  object  of  derision, 
and  was  deeply  mortified,  but  God  overruled  it  for 
her  good.  Her  humihation  led  to  reflection,  and  this 
to  repentance.  I  had  the  pleasure  the  next  morning, 
to  guide  her  broken  and  contrite  heart  to  the  "  balm 
that  makes  the  wounded  whole." 

But  the  episode  in  the  meeting  had  a  dissipating 
effect  on  that  part  gf  the  congregation  who  ob- 
served it. 

At  a  funeral  service  held  in  the  Pike's  school  house, 
where  every  mind  was  serious  and  all  hearts  tender, 
the  bereaved  mourners  sitting  around  the  coffin  in 
deep  sorrow,  the  minister  arose  and  commenced  the 
solemn  service.  He  stood  in  a  narrow  passage  be- 
tween two  writing  desks.  A  whiffet  dog  had  taken 
his  position  back  under  the  minister's  seat,  and  greatly 
annoyed  him  during  the  opening  services  by  thrust- 
ing out  his  head  and  barking  every  time  the  door 
opened.  During  the  prayer,  especially,  he  would  pop 
out  his  head  between  the  kneehng  minister  and  the 
desk  Avith  a  succession  of  barks,  disconcerting  the 
man  of  prayer,  and  disturbing  the  assembly. 


198       Beininiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

It  became  almost  unendurable,  and  the  godly  man 
was  nearly  frantic.  Just  as  he  finished  reading  the 
second  hymn,  and  was  about  to  sit  down,  the  dog 
thrust  his  head  between  the  preacher's  feet  and  began 
his  annoying  bark.  The  minister  caught  him  in  the 
trap  by  bring  his  feet  together,  and  stooping  down, 
took  the  intruder  by  the  nape  of  the  neck  and  the 
tail,  and  carried  him  out  of  the  house,  the  dog  crying 
ki  yi,  ki  yi,  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  and  threw  him 
over  the  fence  in  front  of  the  school  house. 

Brother  W.  came  back  at  the  close  of  the  singing, 
his  face  flushed  with  mortification  and  chagrin. 
Taking  his  place,  he  said :  ''  The  Bible  in  describing 
the  wretchedness  of  the  damned  says,  '  Without  are 
dogs,'  etc.  A  Christian  meeting  ought  to  be  like 
Heaven,  having  the  dmjs  without^ 

Though  he  preached  a  goqd  sermon,  it  was  said 
that  through  the  whole  service  he  showed  the  effects 
of  a  perturbed  spirit. 

During  the  meeting  at  Pike's  school  house,  while 
the  "  word  was  having  free  course,"  and  seriousness 
increasing ;  as  the  preacher  engaged  in  prayer  before 
sermon,  kneeling  in  his  usual  place  in  the  back  part 
of  the  house  on  an  elevation  of  about  a  foot  above 
the  floor,  an  aisle  was  kept  open  leading  from  the 
door  directly  to  the  preachers'  stand.  A  colt  having 
lost  its  dam,  came  rushing  up  the  aisle,  put  its  nose 
close  to  the  minister's  face  and  whinnied;  its  hot 
breath  nearly  suffocated  him,  and  started  the  devout 
congregation,  almost  throwing  the  minister  off  his 
balance.     But  he  had  become  so  intent  in  prayer  that 


All  Things   Working  for  Good.  199 

• 
it  merely  checked  his  voice  for  an  instant,  and  rising 

in  his  ardor  above  the  interruption,  he  bore  the  peo- 
ple on  and  up,  in  their  united  supplications  until  the 
glory  cloud  burst  with  benedictions  on  the  audience 
and  hallelujahs  rang  through  the  building. 

Two  men  backed  the  colt  through  the  aisle,  and 
led  him  to  his  mother.  If  the  devil  entered  the  colt 
to  interrupt  the  meeting,  he  was  defeated,  for  the 
minister  and  the  praying  people  were  so  deeply 
absorbed  in  prayer,  that  neither  colts  nor  devils  could 
break  their  grasp  on  God,  or  draw  their  minds  from 
the  blessing  sought,  until  the  victory  was  achieved. 
What  at  another  time  might  have  disturbed  the 
gravity  of  the  meetmg,  and  dissipated  the  thoughts 
of  the  worshipers,  made  no  impression  upon  them, 
and  the  vanquished  enemy  must  have  retreated 
chagrined  and  foiled  in  his  attempt. 

A  sneering  sceptic,  Mr.  M.,  said  to  the  minister  as 
he  met  him  in  the  street  afterward,  "  Mr.  E.,  what 
said  the  colt  to  you  yesterday  as  he  whinnied  in  your 
face?  Did  he  not,  like  Balaam's  ass,  'forbid  the 
madness  of  the  prophet,'  and  check  your  burning 
zeal  for  us  poor  sinners  ?" 

"  Oh  no,  my  friend,"  replied  the  preacher ;  "  as  I 
undei^tand  the  message,  it  was  '  hold  on  to  God '  for 
the  salvation  of  this  community ;  especially  for  that 
trifler  M.  for  it  is  his  last  call,  and  if  not  saved  in 
this  revival  he  wiU  be  damned."  The  reply  sobered 
him,  and  before  the  meeting  closed,  he  was  found 
among  the  weeping  penitents  imploring  mercy. 

Somerville  was  one  of  our  Sabbath  appointments. 


200       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

It  was  a  pleasant  little  village  in  the  town  of  Eossie^ 
situated  on  the  direct  road  from  Gouverneur  to  Ant- 
werp. We  had  a  good  society  there,  not  large,  but 
devoted  and  respectable. 

Brothers  Johnson,  the  class  leader,  Kelsey,  the 
steward,  Freeman,  the  "preachers'  lodgings,"  and 
several  others,  were  among  the  leading  families  of 
the  place. 

The  families  above  mentioned  did  not  live  in  the 
village,  but  on  the  main  road,  from  half  a  mile  to  a 
mile  north.  In  the  village  we  had  a  few  very  re- 
spectable families,  but  most  of  the  people  were 
Universalists,  for  it  was  common  in  that  day  for 
many  who  did  not  profess  religion  to  take  refuge 
under  that  error.  Hence  the  most  wicked  people  in 
that  place  claimed  to  be  Universalists.  It  was  a  sort 
of  panacea  to  their  consciences,  and  a  bulwark  to 
protect  them  from  the  shafts  of  truth.  Hence  our 
rampart  guns  were  often  turned  upon  these  castella- 
ted walls,  and  it  was  often  delightful  to  see  how  the 
gospel  battering  rams  demolished  their  fortifications. 

The  old  gospel  of  Christ  urged  by  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  hard  to  withstand.  Nothing  but 
man's  depraved  will,  abusing  his  moral  agency,  can 
resist  its  force.  Hence  the  minister,  clad  in  gospel 
armor,  could  say,  "  I  ban  do  all  things  through  Christ 
which  strengtheneth  me."  He  is  more  than  a  match 
for  all  of  God's  enemies. 

One  of  the  famiUes  in  the  village,  whose  name  I 
cannot  recaU,  consisted  of  a  man  and  his  wife,  where 
the  preachers  were  entertained,  who  were  both  char- 


All  Things   Working  for  Good.  201 

acters.  They  were  pious,  and  ardent  Methodists. 
They  aspired  to  be  champions  of  our  cause,  and 
were  the  devoted,  unwavering  friends  of  the  minis- 
ters. They  were  never  so  happy  as  when  minister- 
ing to  the  wants  of  the  over-taxed  but  unyielding 
itinerants.  "  Nothing  is  too  good  for  the  ministers," 
was  their  motto,  like  the  dear  old  lady  who  sweet- 
ened her  pastor  s  tea  with  molasses.  He  begged  her 
to  desist  as  he  did  not  like  molasses,  but  she  kept 
dipping  it  in,  saying,  "It's  none  too  good  for  the 
minister  if  it  was  all  molasses."  So  these  good  peo- 
ple would  almost  kill  us  with  kindness.  The  tea  was 
so  strong  that  you  could  not  see  the  bottom  of  the 
cup ;  the  never-failing  "  short-cake  "  rich  as  cream 
could  make  it,  and  everything  up  to  dyspeptic 
goodness.  The  more  we  expostulated  and  begged 
for  plain  food,  the  richer  it  was  made.  "  Poor  men," 
the  good  sister  would  say,  "  they  have  to  travel  over 
long  roads  and  face  the  terrible  storms,  and  must 
have  the  best  of  care  and  good  nourishing  victuals." 
So  we  were  obliged  to  eat  the  richest  food,  sleep 
with  hot  bricks  at  our  feet,  bottles  of  hot  water  on 
either  side,  and  comfortables  over  us  almost  to  suffo- 
cation, sometimes  praying,  "  Save  me  from  my 
friends."  But,  notwithstanding  the  discomforts  of 
their  overdone  benevolence,  we  knew  that  it  was 
kindly  proffered,  and  it  was,  therefore,  thankfully 
received. 

The  good  woman  was  an  inveterate  snuff  taker 
and  talker,  and  unwearied  in  her  well-meant  atten- 
tions.   Her  husband  lived  up  to  the  light  he  had,  and 


202       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


was  ready  on  every  suitable  occasion  to  ply  us  with 
questions  on  Christian  experience.  "Do  you  ever 
think  swear  f '  he  would  ask,  and  when  answered  in 
the  negative,  would  be  astonished,  and  anxious  to 
know  "  why  such  a  difference  between  your  experi- 
ence and  mine  ?"  He  supposed  everyone  thought  and 
felt  alike.  He  would  in  his  honesty  tell  you  of  the 
great  "  swear  words "  that  would  rise  in  his  mind 
under  provocations ;  thought  it  was  his  "  thorn  in  the 
flesh,"  that  he  must  carry  to  his  grave.  He  would 
not  utter  them  for  the  world,  and  seemed  to  think, 
he  was  a  conqueror  if  he  did  not.  "When  told  that 
thev  were  sin  if  encouraojed  in  the  mind,  but  the 
atonement  had  provided  for  their  destruction — for 
the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and 
would  remove  all  "the  roots  of  bitterness,"  and 
give  him 

"  A  heart  in  every  thought  renewed, 
And  full  of  love  divine ; 
Perfect  and  right,  and  pure  and  good, 
A  copy  Lord  of  thine — " 

he  improved  the  light,  and  was  delivered  from 
"this  bodv  of  death."  God  took  the  "swear 
words "  out  of  his  mind,  and  brought  him  "  into 
the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God."  He  was  always 
happy  sitting  at  the  feet  of  his  more  experienced 
brethren. 

I  met  him  a  short  time  before  I  left  the  circuit, 
several  miles  from  home,  between  Little  Bow  and 
Oxbow.  As  we  approached  each  other  he  recognized 
me,  and  as  he  was  hastening  on  with  a  smiling  coun- 


All  Things   Working  for  Good.  203 

tenance,  a  mischievous  farm  dog  spying  him,  started 
on  a  run,  coming  up  noiselessly  behind,  and  caught 
him  by  the  leg,  with  a  sudden  howl.  The  man 
jumped  at  least  three  feet  into  the  air  with  a  fright- 
ened yell.  The  dog  was  as  much  frightened  as  the 
man,  and  ran  yelping  back.  As  I  looked  at  the 
scared  man  running  in  one  direction  and  the  dog  in 
another,  the  whole  scene  touched  my  mirthfulness. 
I  had  to  dismount,  and  Mng  down  on  the  grass  by 
the  roadside,  indulged  in  an  immoderate  fit  of 
laughter. 

My  friend  joined  me  in  the  laugh  when  he  took 
in  the  ludicrous  scene,  and  found  he  was  not  injured. 
But  he  has  long  since  got  beyond  the  reach  of  dogs, 
in  that  blessed  land  where  "  there  is  nothing  to  hurt 
in  all  God's  holy  mountain." 

We  held  a  successful  four  days'  meeting  in  Somer- 
ville,  in  the  winter  of  1835.  I  had  seldom  attended 
such  a  meeting  at  that  time,  where  it  was  so  difficult 
to  move  the  people.  Our  Thursday  evening  meeting 
and  our  fast  day  services  were  very  profitable  to  the 
church.  God's  spirit  was  revealed  in  them  mightily. 
They  had  a  spirit  of  unceasing  prayer.  The  uncon- 
verted attended  in  large  numbers,  and  although  a 
solemn  awe  rested  upon  them,  yet  they  would  not 
yield.  They  entrenched  themselves  behind  the  ram- 
parts of  Universalism,  and  bid  defiance  to  the  power 
of  truth. 

It  became  a  sharp  contest  between  truth  and  error, 
and  victorv  trembled  in  the  balance.  I  have  never 
witnessed  a  closer  or  more  earnest  contest  than  on 


2<4      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  Sabbath  of  that  meeting.  AVe  made  no  com- 
l)romise  with  sin,  but  preached  the  law  in  all  its 
terror.  My  colleague,  Brother  Woodruff,  preached 
a  powerful  sermon  on  the  text  "  What  shall  it  profit 
a  man  if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul;  or,  what  shall  he  give  in  exchange  for  his 
soul  ? "  His  arguments  were  cogent,  and  his  appeals 
thrilling.  But  it  Avas  like  firing  heavy  artillery 
against  granite  rocks.  Yet  you  could  see  scales 
flying,  and  small  fissures  opening,  that  to  the  eye  of 
faith  gave  evidence  of  a  breach  in  the  walls. 

The  spirit  of  prayer  waxed  mighty ;  it  held  omni- 
potence with  a  firm  and  united  grasp,  and  must  pre- 
vail. Every  heart  was  burdened  for  souls.  It  was 
the  church  in  travail,  and  its  convulsive  pangs  could 
not  be  in  vain. 

The  text  in  the  evening  was,  "  The  harvest  is  past, 
the  summer  is  ended,  and  we  are  not  saved.''  As 
the  preacher  reminded  them  of  the  precious  summer 
days  they  had  enjoyed— the  coming  harvest,  its  fear- 
ful gatherings:  the  wheat  into  God's  garners,  the 
chaff  to  be  burned ;  the  end  of  sowing,  the  time  of 
reaping ;  the  fruitless  lamentations  of  the  wicked— 
''We  are  not  saved"— all  summer  days  of  youth, 
opportunities,  privileges,  growth,  now  ail  over— "not 
saved,"  God  w^as  in  the  word. 

The  breakdown  came,  and  came  with  power.  It 
was  one  of  those  striking  manifestations  of  God's 
spirit  to  the  consciences  of  men,  giving  them  a  clear 
sense  of  their  sins  and  danger,  the  terrible  penalty 
of  the  broken  law,  their  personal  accountabihty,  and 


All  Things   Workiny  f>r  Good.  2^5 

the  immediate  necessity  of  "flying  from  the  fiery 
threatenings  of  Sinai  to  the  atoning  blood  of  Cal- 
vary, drawing,  melting,  and  saving  men."  There 
was  a  rush  to  the  "mourners'  bench,"  as  if  there 
was  safety  no  where  else.  Men,  women  and  children 
came,  as  if  swept  by  a  wind,  falling  on  their  knees, 
and  with  streaming  eyes,  and  hands  outstretched 
towards  the  heavens,  lifted  up  their  voices  and  plead 
for  mercv  on  their  ffuiltv  souls.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
solemn  scenes  of  eternity  were  opened  to  every  gaze 
— a  lost  heaven,  a  burning  hell,  a  slighted  Saviour, 
an  angry  Judge,  the  impending  storm,  and  inexor- 
able doom. 

Oh  I  what  a  view  a  person  will  have  of  the  holi- 
ness of  God,  the  heinousness  of  sin,  the  responsibility 
of  man,  the  sternness  of  justice,  and  the  retributions 
of  eternity  in  those  revelations  of  the  spirit  to  the 
senses  of  men,  when  eternity  with  its  awful  realities 
is  set  before  us.  How  ministers  will  "  crv  aloud  and 
spare  not ; "  how  Christians  will  plead  for  men  as 
they  see  them  "  hair  hung  and  breeze  shaken  "  over 
hell;  and  how  the  wicked  will  shriek  and  cry  for 
mercy,  as  if  the  last  fiery  storm  was  breaking  upon 
them. 

A  merchant  of  the  place,  who  plumed  himself  on 
his  self  possession,  and  laughed  at  the  fear  of  the 
awakened,  calling  it  "old  womanish,"  scouted  the 
idea  of  a  hell,  a  judgment  day,  and  the  punishment 
of  the  wicked.  When  the  "  mighty,  rushing  wind  " 
struck  the  congregation,  just  as  "  it  filled  the  house 
where  the  disciples  were  sitting"  on  the  day  of 


206      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Pentecost,  as  the  cry  of  the  Spirit-moved  people 
went  up  for  mercy,  he  arose  with  them,  praying  for 
God  to  save  him;  ran  through  the  village  to  his 
room  at  the  hotel,  and  was  found  an  hour  afterwards, 
by  his  friends,  walking  the  floor  with  a  rapid  step, 
wringing  his  hands,  and  crying  for  mercy,  saying, 
"  The  judgment  day  has  come,  and  I  am  unprepared." 
Depraved  men  may  mock  at  sacred  things,  but 
there  are  times  when  God,  in  answer  to  prayer,  will 
so  fully  reveal  himself  to  them,  as  to  sweep  away 
their  cobweb  coverings,  and  let  the  light  of  the  Spirit 
in  upon  their  dark  minds,  revealing  their  native 
ugUness,  and  the  dreadful  doom  awaiting  the  finally 
impenitent.  Oh,  for  the  candor  and  moral  honesty 
to  yield  to  God  before  the  final  storm  shall  break ! 


Providence  Provides. 


207 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


PROVIDENCE   PROVIDES. 


MOXG  the  conversions  of  this  meeting  (Pikes' 
school  house)  was  that  of  a  bright,  intelligent 
little  girl  of  about  ten  years  of  age.  Her 
parents  lived  in  the  woods,  about  three  miles  from 
the  school  house.  Keither  her  father  nor  mother 
were  professors  of  religion.  Her  mother  was  reli- 
giously inclined,  but  her  father  was  a  godless  man, 
who  "  neither  feared  God  nor  regarded  man." 

The  child  was  clearly  converted,  told  her  experi- 
ence in  a  sweet,  \vinning  way,  and  moved  all  hearts 
by  her  artless,  melting  testimonies,  and  the  unction 
of  her  prayers. 

She  had  a  deep  sense  of  the  worth  of  the  soul,  for 
one  so  young ;  and  her  appeals  melted  hard  hearts, 
and  drew  tears  from  eyes  unused  to  weep.  God 
honored  her  as  a  chosen  messenger  of  mercy  to  the 
community,  and  several  were  won  to  Christ  through 
her  simple  instrumentality.  It  was  touching  to  see 
her  moving  among  the  congregation,  and  hear  the 
tender  appeals  made  to  her  friends  to  start  for 
heaven,  and  listen  to  the  silvery  tones  of  her  quiver- 
ing voice,  saying,  "  Won't  you  come  to  my  Jesus  ? " 
and  leading  the  weeping  penitents  to  Christ. 


208       Remmiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

It  was  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  eloquent 
descriptions  of  the  evangelical  prophet  in  foretelling 
the  coming  glory  of  the  latter  day,  when  human 
passion  and  opposition  should  yield  to  the  moving, 
melting  power  of  the  Gospel—"  a  little  child  shall 
lead  them." 

She  carried  the  same  earnest,  loving  spirit  into  her 
own  home,  and  with  teai-s  and  prayers  entreated 
them  to  give  their  hearts  to  Christ.  Her  mother, 
yielding  to  her  daughter's  entreaties,  was  found,  like 
the  "  weeping  Mary,"  sitting  at  the  Saviour's  feet. 
But  her  father  was  angered  by  her  tears  and  prayers, 
and  commanded  her  to  be  silent,  saying,  "  I'll  have 
no  sniveling  or  praying  in  the  house.  It  is  all  cant ; 
religion  is  a  humbug,  professoi*s  are  base  hypocrites, 
and  none  of  my  family  shall  be  led  away."  He 
forbade  her  attending  any  more  of  the  meetings, 
requiring  her  to  promise  him  that  she  would  stop 
praying,  and  think  no  more  about  religion.  He 
commanded  her  to  go  into  the  chamber  and  remain 
until  she  was  cured  of  her  fanaticism. 

She  went  into  the  large  chamber,  fell  upon  her 
knees,  and  prayed  for  her  angry  father,  her  weeping 
mother,  and  her  little  brothers.  God  comforted  her 
as  she  cast  her  burden  upon  him. 

Every  time  the  enraged  man  awoke  that  night 
from  a  troubled  sleep,  he  could  hear  the  sobbing 
of  his  stricken  wife,  and  the  moaning  voice  of 
his  praying  child,  which  made  his  anger  burn  more 
fiercely.  The  next  day,  as  his  little  daughter  did 
not  co'me  down,  he  began  to  fear  she  might  be  sick, 


Providence  Provides. 


209 


and  during  the  afternoon,  every  time  he  came  into 
the  house,  he  stealthily  opened  the  chamber  door. 
He  could  hear  the  tones  of  her  voice,  as  if  in  earnest 
conversation  with  some  one.  It  occurred  to  him 
that  some  of  her  mates  were  with  her,  and  as  oxlIy- 

t, 

her  voice  could  be  heard,  he  naturally  thought  she 
was  complaining  of  his  treatment.  Stung  by  the 
thought,  he  determined  to  go  up  and  administer  pun- 
ishment, and  send  her  friends  home,  as  they  mi^ht 
encourage  her  in  her  religious  fanaticism.  Putting 
his  foot  on  the  stairs,  he  heard  the  words,  "  My  dear 
Father,"  uttered  in  affectionate  tones.  This  awak- 
ened his  curiosity,  and  moving  carefulh^  to  the  top 
of  the  stairs,  where  he  could  hear  without  beino- 
seen,  he  heard  things  that  pierced  his  heart  with 
anguish.  His  little  daughter  was  upon  her  knees, 
with  her  forehead  on  the  floor,  pleading  with  God 
to  "  bless  her  dear  father."  She  told  how  good  and 
kind  he  had  been,  how  he  was  tempted  by  Satan 
who  kept  making  him  angry ;  asked  that  it  be  not 
laid  to  his  charge,  for  he  was  too  good  to  scold  her 
for  loving  Jesus,  and  begged  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
come  into  his  heart,  make  him  good  and  kind  as  he 
used  to  be,  and  help  him  to  love  Jesus,  and  do  His 
will. 

Every  word  pierced  his  soul  with  anguish,  and 
showed  him  what  a  monster  of  depravity  he  w^as  to 
abuse  such  a  daughter,  just  because  she  loved  and 
served  the  God  he  had  despised  and  neglected. 

He  began  to  tremble  so  that  he  could  scarcely 
keep  his  place  on  the  stairs.     The  Holy  Spirit  opened 

14 


210      Eeminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

to  his  view  his  "  exceeding  sinfulness,"  his  exposure 
to  Divine  anger,  and  his  need  of  mercy. 

He  crawled  on  his  hands  and  knees  towards  his 
praying  child,  and,  throwing  his  arms  about  her, 
begged  her  to  forgive  his  harshness  and  great  wick- 
edness, and  pray  to  the  Saviour  she  loved,  to  pardon 
his  many  sins  and  save  him  by  His  mercy,  if  it  was 
not  too  late.  There  the  father  and  daughter,  folded 
in  each  other's  arms,  prayed  and  wept,  and  plead 
for  mercy  to  the  guilty  sinner. 

The  mother,  hearing  the  noise,  came  up  the  stairs, 
and  seeing  the  state  of  things,  fell  upon  her  knees, 
crying,  "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  and 
until  late  in  the  night  they  struggled  in  agonizing 
prayer  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Before  they 
retired  that  very  night,  or  rather  morning,  the  family 
altar  was  erected.  The  httle  testament  of  the  child 
was  opened  and  read,  a^nd  prayer  offered  to  then* 
common  Father. 

The  next  day  the  whole  family  were  at  the  meet- 
ing, and  the  father  improved  the  first  opportunity 
to  confess  his  sins,  and  ask  prayers  for  himself  and 
wife,  that  they  might  be  saved,  and,  with  their 
happy  daughter,  go  to  heaven. 

He  told  of  his  angry,  persecuting  spirit ;  of  Mary's 
prayers  and  tears ;  of  his  anguish  of  spirit,  when  he 
saw  his  guilt  and  danger,  and  a  determination  to 
lead  a  new  life. 

The  parents  bowed  among  the  "  mourners "  that 
day,  and  consecrated  themselves  to  the  service  of 
Christ.    They  went  home  from  that  meeting  new 


Providence  Provides. 


211 


creatures,  a  happy  family,  saved  by  grace,  and 
became  devoted  and  useful  members  of  the  church. 
I  knew  them  for  several  years  afterwards,  and 
found  them  "  true  disciples,"  sitting  at  the  Saviour  s 
feet." 

The  long  rides  on  horse  back,  especially  in  cold 
weather,  and  the  much  speaking,  both  long  and  loud, 
began  to  affect  my  health.     Eestless  nights,  poor 
appetite,  and  a  severe  pain  in  the  side  and  breast 
alarmed  my  friends,  and  it  became  a  grave  question 
with  them  how  to  hghten  my  labors  and  make  the 
travel  easier.     A  cutter  was  too  expensive,  the  people 
were    generally    poor,    and    money  scarce.     So    a 
''jumper"  was  talked  about.     These  were  made  by 
taking  two  poles,  which  answered  for  shafts  and 
runners,  shaving  them   thin  on   the  inside,  at  the 
point  where  they  were  to   bend,  and   fastening  a 
crockery  crate  upon  the  runners,  with  a  whiffletree 
in  front.     The  crate,  filled  with  straw,  made  a  com- 
fortable seat  for  the  driver. 

But  this  was  objected  to  by  some  of  the  fastidious, 
as  quite  too  undignified  for  the  "  boy  preacher."  So 
Brother  Perrigo,  a  carriage  maker  in  Gouverneur, 
proposed  to  construct  a  vehicle  that  would  be  more 
"  respectable."  He  therefore  took  two  cutter  run- 
ners, much  shorter  than  usual,  put  two  pieces  of 
timber  across  from  one  to  the  other,  as  beams  raised 
to  the  proper  height  by  strong  wooden  pins,  nailed 
boards  upon  them  for  a  bottom  and  put  on  a  box 
about  three  and  a  haK  feet  long,  eighteen  inches 


212       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

wide,  and  high  in  proportion.  A  board  was  placed 
at  the  back  for  a  seat,  under  which  I  could  place  my 
saddle  bags.  One  good  brother  loaned  a  whitHetree, 
another  a^pair  of  cast  iron  shoes,  and  another  a  pair 
of  tiiills.  It  took  about  half  a  day  to  construct  it. 
The  good  sisters  loaned  me  two  warm  kersey  blank- 
ets, prepared  a  hot  block  for  my  feet,  and  Brother 
Smith  gave  me  the  use  of  a  second-hand  harness  for 

the  winter. 

When  rigged  for  my  journey,  my  "  turnout "  was 
unique.  Tlie  horse  was  rather  large  for  the  sleigh, 
but  no  matter,  for  the  sleigh  just  fitted  the  ''  little 
preacher ;  "  there  was  no  room  to  spare,  and  yet  all 
that  was  needed.     I  felt  rich  as  Croesus,  and  happy 

as  a  king. 

There  stood  Charlie  Black,  a  beautiful,  coal  black, 
four  year  old   colt,   large   and   well   proportioned, 
glossy  hair,  arched  neck,  champing  his  bit,   eager 
for   the    fray;  an  old  second-hand    harness,   that 
seemed  a  stranger  to  oil  or  blacking  and  my  match- 
less sleigh,  that  never  had  an  equal,  and  guileless  of 
paint.     The  builder  had  facetiously  named  it  "  The 
hurrahr     Seated  in  it,  comfortably  wrapped,  the 
hot  block  steaming  at  my  feet,  the  kersey  blankets 
tucked  around  me,  and   a  company   of  interested 
friends  gathered  together  to  see  me  off,  my  antic 
horse  dashed  across  the  bridge,  for  a  thirty  miles 
drive  to  my  evening  appointment.     I  felt  anxious  to 
outstrip  the  devil,  and  save  sinners  before  he  could 
reach  them.     As  I  entered  the  cedar  swamp  in  the 


Prov  idence  Pro  v  ides. 


213 


suburbs  of  the  village,  my  song  must  have  startled 
the  winter  birds,  as  it  rang  through  the  wild  woods, 
in  the  expressive  lines  of  John  Wesley— 

"  On  all  the  groveling  things  of  earth, 
With  pity  we  look  down, 
And  claim  by  virtue  of  our  birth, 
A  never  fading  crown. 

"  So  wretched  and  obscure, 
The  men  whom  ye  despise  ; 
So  foolish,  impotent  and  poor, 
Above  your  scorn  we  rise. 

"  We,  through  the  Holy  Ghost, 
Can  witness  better  things  : 
For  He  whose  blood  is  all  our  boast, 
Hath  made  us  priests  and  kings." 

I  spent  two  days  aiding  the  open  communion  Bap- 
tists in  a  meeting.  They  were  few  in  number  in  all 
that  region,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  they  had 
failed  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  reading  and  improve- 
ment, and  were  wanting  in  general  intelligence. 
Their  preachers  were  good  men,  but  more  illiterate 
than  I  had  looked  for.  There  were  five  or  six 
ministers  in  attendance,  who  were  earnest,  but  weak 
and  unskillful.  The  old  minister,  Elder  Dodge,  who 
had  charge  of  the  meeting,  was  a  fair,  common 
sense  man,  but  coarse  and  facetious. 

The  most  forward  man  among  them  was  Elder  O. 
I  heard  him  jjreach  two  sermons,  and  perhaps  it  was 
my  own  obtuseness,  but  I  could  not  tell  what  he  was 
aiming  at;  it  seemed  to  me  like  a  roar  of  words. 
The  subject  of  his  second  sermon  was,  "The  raising 


i 


.4 


214       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

of  the  widow's  son."  I  was  to  exhort  after  him,  but 
he  made  ^'darkness  visible."  It  was  to  me  like 
reading  rapidly  a  page  from  the  dictionary— there 
was  a  want  of  connection.  I  could  not  see  a  pomt 
on  which  to  found  an  exhortation,  and  was  in  great 

perplexity. 

In  my  extremity  I  turned  to  God,  and  asked  him 
for  at  least  "  a  barley  cake "  to  divide  among  the 
multitude.  My  pleading  heart  said:  '^  O  Jesus, 
when  you  called  me  in  my  boyhood  to  preach  the 
blessed  Gospel,  you  rang  the  promise  with  assurance 
through  mv  soul :  '  Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob,  I 
will  be  witii  thee,'  and  Thou  hast  never  failed  me. 
Oh,  bring  hght  out  of  darkness,  and  give  me  some- 
thing for  the  hungry  people." 

As  I  arose  to  speak  it  came  to  me  like  the  breath 
of  inspiration  that  this  place,  like  '' Nain^'  is  a 
funeral  scene,  for  in  every  house  are  found  some  dead 
in  sin.  This  weeping  widow  is  an  emblem  of  a 
mourning  church.  Her  son,  the  light  of  her  house, 
the  prop  of  her  declining  years,  is  dead.  He  alone 
could  perpetuate  the  family  name,  and  with  a  loving 
hand  rock  the  cradle  of  her  second  childhood,  and 
smooth  her  passage  to  the  grave.  But  he  is  dead ; 
stretched  upon  the  bier,  a  figure  of  the  dead  in  sin. 
A  bier  moves  from  every  door,  attended  by  the 
mourners.  It  is  a  father  dead  from  one  house,  a 
mother  from  another,  a  brother  from  this,  and  a 
sister  from  that;  we  never  saw  so  many  funeral 
trains  moving  through  a  crowded  city ;  but  here,  in 
the  open  countrv,   a   hundred  funeral  processions 


Providence  Provides, 


215 


come  from  cabin  and  mansion.  They  come  train 
after  train,  over  the  hills,  down  the  streets,  across 
the  fields,  until  they  join  in  one  weeping  cortege  as 
they  enter  the  grave  yard  of  perdition.  Here  are 
weeping  mothers,  sobbing  fathers,  mourning  brothers 
and  sisters ;  my  heart  sickens  at  the  sight.  But  lo ! 
a  stranger  approaches ;  his  step  is  firm ;  in  his  coun- 
tenance are  blended  pity  and  love.  He  looks  at  the 
weeping  mourners,  and  his  heart  is  touched.  He 
speaks  with  a  voice  of  authority,  and  the  procession 
stands  still.  Look !  He  goes  from  bier  to  bier  and 
sends  his  voice  ringing  through  the  dull  ear  of 
death :  "  Young  man,  I  say  unto  you,  arise ! "  and 
springing  from  the  pillow,  pale  death  left  their  fea- 
tures, and  Jesus  takes  them  by  the  hand  and  presents 
them  to  a  mother's  embrace.  Oh !  what  rejoicing ; 
there  are  shouts  and  songs  and  'holy  laughter.  The 
watching  angels  catch  the  gladness  and  all  the  joy 
bells  of  heaven  ring,  for  the  dead  is  alive,  the  lost 
are  found.  I  come  to  greet  these  risen  ones,  and 
guide  them  to  their  blessed  home. 

The  first  step  is  to  the  mercy  seat;  I  give  my 
hand  to  every  man  and  woman  who  is  out  of  hell. 
Come,  sinnei^,  meet  me  at  the  mourner's  bench  for 
there  stands  Jesus  who  touched  your  bier  and  bade 
you  arise ;  come  and  thank  him  that  you  are  out  of 
hell ;  come  and  give  your  heart  to  him  who  is  the 
resurrection  and  the  life.  They  came,  came  from 
all  parts  of  the  house  and  from  the  door-yard — seek- 
ing sinners  to  meet  a  seeking  Savior ;  and  without 
realizing  who  was  Methodist  or  Baptist  we  prayed, 


210       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circidt  Life. 

strufff-led  and  wept  until  the  glory  cloud  broke  upon 
us  and  the  scene  that  transpired  more  than  eighteen 
hundred  years  ago  at  the  gates  of  Xain  was  re-en- 
acted over  again.  Parents  embraced  their  children, 
raised  to  newness  of  life  at  the  touch  of  Jesus ;  hus- 
bands and  wives,  rescued  from  spiritual  death  by  the 
power  of  Christ,  joined  their  hosannas  to  the  Son  of 
David!  Hallelujah  I  our  Jesus  never  fails;  eternity 
will  be  none  too  long  to  give  him  glory. 

The  good  people  at  the  meeting  had  a  habit  that 
was  very  disagreeable  to  me.  The  most  of  them 
were  inveterate  smokers,  both  preachers  and  peof)le, 
men  and  women.  They  seemed  to  find  great  pleas- 
ure in  coming  early  to  the  meeting  and  while  the 
congregation  was  assembling,  have  a  good  time  in 
smoking  and  visiting. 

Thirty  or  forty  persons  smoking  in  one  house 
would  make  the  air  thick  and  cloudy.  It  w^as  sick- 
ening in  the  extreme,  and  for  one  unaccustomed  to 
the  pipe,  nauseating  and  debilitating. 

I  arose  in  that  murky  atmosphere  one  afternoon 
to  preach,  hterally  drunk  with  the  fumes  of  tobacco ; 
my  head  dizzy,  my  temples  throbbing,  writhing  with 
nausea  and  covered  with  a  cold,  clammy  perspira- 
tion. I  coughed  every  few  sentences  but  no  one 
seemed  to  divine  the  cause.  But  I  struggled  bravely 
on;  the  air  from  the  open  window  was  gradually 
purifying  the  room  and  it  was  becoming  more 
endurable,  when  a  large  woman,  one  of  their  most 
active  membei^,  arose  in  about  the  middle  of  the 
room  and  walked  dehberately  to  the  stove,  lit  her 


Providence  Provides. 


217 


pipe  and  sat  down  on  a  low  seat  attached  to  the  pul- 
pit, just  beneath  the  preacher,  where  the  volumes  of 
curhng  smoke  rose  in  his  face  and  were  inhaled  at 
Qxery  respiration.  Forbearance  ceased  to  be  a  vir- 
tue, and  exasperated  at  the  indignity,  I  said  decid- 
edly :  "  This  woman  must  either  stop  smoking  or  I 
must  stop  speaking,  for  I  can  scarcely  breath  in  this 
stifling  atmosphere.  It  is  bad  enough  to  pollute 
God's  pure  air  out  of  doors,  but  to  pufip  tobacco 
smoke  in  the  house  of  God  makes  me  think  of  the 
damned  in  hell,  '  where  the  smoke  of  their  torment 
ascendeth  up  forever  and  ever.' "  The  w^oman  put 
up  her  pipe,  but  was  greatly  offended  and  could  not 
get  blessed  again  while  I  stayed.  The  minister  who 
offered  the  closing  prayer,  while  he  was  saturated 
with  tobacco,  asked  that  no  one  like  Uzzah  should 
put  forth  his  hand  to  steady  the  ark  of  God  by 
depriving  any  of  his  chosen  ones  of  their  liberty. 
My  reproof  was  like  a  wet  blanket  on  the  meeting, 
but  I  thought  it  w^as  among  the  "  all  things ''  that 
would  work  for  good. 

My  colleague  was  called  upon  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  a  child.  The  bereaved  family  lived  up  in 
the  woods  beyond  Richville,  sixteen  or  seventeen 
miles  from  his  home.  It  was  an  inclement  season  of 
the  year  and  the  going  was  almost  impassable.  The 
funeral  was  appointed  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.  without  any 
reference  to  the  convenience  of  the  minister.  He 
had  to  start  very  early,  before  daylight,  in  order  to 
be  in  time  for  the  service ;  and  by  urging  the  horse 
through  the  mud,  and  footing  it  the  last  three  or 


M 
i 


218       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

four  miles  where  a  horse  could  not  travel,  he  reached 
the  place  just  after  the  congregation  had  assembled 
— preached  to  an  attentive  people,  accompanied  the 
procession  some  distance  to  the  place  of  burial, 
walked  back  to  the  place  where  he  had  left  his 
horse,  returned  home,  arriving  there  at  10  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  faint  and  exhausted,  as  no  one  had 
invited  him  to  remain  for  refreshments.  He  was 
utterly  prostrated  and  did  not  recuperate  for  some 
days.  In  that  early  day  ministers  always  responded 
to  funeral  calls,  and  spared  no  pains  to  minister  to 
the  afflicted,  without  thought  of  compensation.'  In- 
deed the  framers  of  our  Discipline  forbid  their  mak- 
ing a  charge  for  the  burial  of  the  dead,  leaving  it  a 
voluntary  matter  with  the  people  to  compensate 
them  for  their  services,  without  compulsion.  But 
many  of  them  seemed  to  think  that  no  matter  how 
fatiguing  the  journey,  or  how  much  the  wear  and 
tear  of  the  trip,  they  must  do  it  and  be  thankful 
for  the  privilege. 

!N'ot  so,  however,  with  the  bereaved  father  on  this 
occasion.  About  a  week  after  the  funeral  he  called 
at  the  minister's  to  reward  him  for  his  services.  He 
was  a  well-to-do  farmer  for  that  day,  but  a  slave  to 
tobacco,  and  often  stimulated  with  rum.  He  had 
taken  a  little  that  day  ''  for  his  stomach's  sake  and 
his  often  infirmities,"  just  enough  to  make  him  talk- 
ative and  generous.  He  told  the  preacher  that  he 
was  a  Universalist,  well  established  in  the  faith,  and 
though  he  did  not  like  his  sermon,  and  had  called  to 
confute  the  doctrine  which  he  had  preached,  yet  he 


Providence  Provides. 


219 


would  pay  him  liberally  notwithstanding.  When 
he  hired  a  man  he  gave  him  good  wages. 

He  was  so  generous  in  his  talk  that  the  preacher 
looked  for  a  liberal  fee.  After  a  great  flourish  of 
trumpets  he  took  out  his  pocket  book  and  gave  him 
twenty-five  cents,  saying :  "  There,  when  I  send  for 
you  again,  you  may  be  sure  that  I  will  always  pay 
you  well,  whether  I  like  your  sermon  or  not,"  and 
took  his  leave  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  had  done 
a  very  generous  deed. 

It  took  some  time  after  his  departure  to  ventilate 
the  house  and  free  it  from  the  odor  of  rum  and 
tobacco.  Many  such  days  of  hard  work  did  these 
devoted  circuit  riders  perform  without  thanks  or 
reward,  for  all  were  not  even  as  generous  as  this 
boasted  Universalist. 

The  year  closed  pleasantly.  The  farewell  sermons 
were  tender  and  sorrowful;  the  partings  sad  and 
reluctant — 


"  And  when  I  see  that  we  must  part, 
You  draw  like  cords  around  my  heart." 

No  tie  is  more  tender  and  strong  than  the  one  that 
unites  pastor  and  people.  The  leave  takings  of  those 
early  days  were  like  tearing  the  heart  asunder. 
They  were  the  old  Ephesian  agony  over  again, 
"  when  they  all  wept  sore  and  fell  on  Paul's  neck 
and  kissed  him,  sorrowing  most  of  all  because  they 
should  see  his  face  no  more."  Thank  God  for 
heaven,  where  farewell  words  are  never  spoken  and 
parting  tears  are  never  shed ! 


220       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

Oneida  Conference  met  this  year  (1835)  in  the  city 
of  Oswego.  Brother  C.  W.  Leet  was  on  the  Ant- 
werp circuit,  adjoining  Gouverneur.  lie  joined  the 
Oneida  annual  conference  in  1833,  being  then  thirty- 
four  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  good  strong 
sense,  a  fair  preacher,  and  an  excellent  administrator 
of  discipline.  At  this  conference  he  was  eligible  for 
full  connection  and  deacon's  orders.  He  sustained 
a  creditable  examination  and  was  received  into  the 
conference;  filled  some  of  our  best  appointments 
during  the  twenty-four  years  of  his  itinerancy  ;  was 
severely  afflicted  with  asthma  much  of  his  life,  and 
therefore  labored  under  great  difficulty.  But  he 
gave  full  proof  of  his  ministry  in  diligence,  efficiency 
and  success.  His  mortal  remains  slumber  in  the 
cemetery  at  Vernon,  awaiting  the  resurrection  call. 
''  He  was  a  good  man,  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  much  people  was  added  unto  the  Lord  " 
through  his  instrumentalitv. 

Brother  L.  lived  at  Ox  Bow.  We  arranged  to  put 
my  horse  before  his  wagon  and  make  the  journey 
together.  Leaving  Gouverneur  Friday  morning,  we 
traveled  about  fifty  miles  and  lodged  with  a  kind 
Methodist  family,  in  Adams  village,  for  the  night. 
This  was  the  custom  of  that  day.  A  preacher  rarely 
put  up  at  a  tavern  if  there  were  Methodists  within 
reach.  On  a  journey,  we  always  inquired  if  there 
were  any  Methodists  in  the  place,  and  were  quite 
sure  of  a  cordial  welcome. 

Our  people  were  very  hospitable,  always  ready  to 
care  for  both  man  and  beast,  according  to  the  best 


Providence  ProvhJes. 


221 


of  their  ability.  Usually  some  one  familiar  with 
the  route  would  give  us  a  list  of  "stopping  i)laces" 
on  the  way,  where  we  might  stop  for  dinner,  tea,  or 
lodging. 

Leaving  Adams  Saturday  morning,  we  reached 
Pulaski  about  noon.  There  was  a  quarterly  meetino- 
at  the  place,  and  it  was  arranged  that  the  preachers 
from  the  north  should  attend  it  on  their  way.  We 
met  about  twenty  ministers  and  were  "  quartered '' 
among  the  brethren.  It  was  a  great  treat  for  the 
preachers  to  enjoy  a  rest  Sabbath,  and  listen  to  the 
Gospel  as  dispensed  by  some  of  the  strong  pulpit 
orators  of  the  Church,  and  it  was  no  small  pleasure 
for  the  laity  to  see  so  many  of  the  heralds  of  the 
Cross,  and  unite  with  them  in  the  delightful  exer- 
cises of  the  occasion.  The  Saturday  sermon  was 
preached  by  Rev.  Robert  Everdell.  It  was  a  clear, 
systepiatic  sermon  from  the  text :  "  Whoso  looketh 
into  the  perfect  law  of  liberty  and  continueth 
therein,  he  being  not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer 
of  the  word,  this  man  shall  be  blessed  in  his  deed." 
Brother  Everdell  was  an  able  preacher,  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  descriptive  in  his  style,  impressive 
in  his  manner,  and  close  in  application.  It  was  a 
profitable  meeting  to  all,  especially  to  the  young 
preachers  who  so  seldom  heard  a  sermon. 

The  evening  prayer  meeting  was  one  of  power. 
Pastors  and  people  entered  heartily  into  the  work. 
Xo  waiting  for  each  other,  no  standing  in  one 
another's  way;  but  as  the  amen  of  one  dropped 
from   his  lips  another  led  in  prayer,  another  and 


222       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

another,  without  that  trembling  hesitancy  that  is 
often  found  in  the  refinements  of  modern  times. 
Let  twenty  ministers  and  at  least  a  hundred  la}Tnen 
unite  their  faith  prayer,  and  heaven  is  brought  down 
to  earth.  Some  were  at  the  "  mourners'  bench,"  and 
we  had  the  "  shout  of  a  king  in  the  camp." 

The  morning  love  feast  was  large  and  good.  The 
pastor  and  one  of  the  class  leaders  stood  in  the  vesti- 
bule, took  the  tickets,  greeting  all  with  a  warm 
clasp  of  the  hand,  and  a  hearty  "  God  bless  you." 
The  preachers  had  been  furnished  the  evening  before 
with  tickets,  and  were  admitted.  As  soon  as  a  score 
or  so  were  in  the  church,  they  began  to  sing,  and 
continued  with  but  little  abatement  for  the  half  hour 
in  which  the  congregation  were  assembling.  There 
was  no  doggerel  among  the  hymns,  but  they  were 
solid,  evangelical,  experimental,  or  doctrinal,  mostly 
from  the  standard  hymn  book,  lifting  the  soul  up  to 
God,  interspersed  with  "  amens,"  "  glorys,"  and  "  hal- 
lelujahs." The  "  testimonies  "  in  that  meeting  were 
dagguereot\^ed  on  my  memory,  as  one  after  another 
told  how  their  feet  were  taken  from  the  "  mire  and 
clay,"  and  placed  on  the  rock,  and  a  new  song  put  in 
their  mouths.  Every  preacher  told  of  trials  and 
victory,  ascribing  all  their  conquest  to  the  Lamb. 
No  whining  about  great  sacrifices,  but  glorying  in 
the  cross  of  Christ,  considering  it  an  honor  to  follow 
in  the  footsteps  of  Him  "  who  had  not  where  to  lay 
his  head."  It  seems  as  if  I  could  now  hear  the  songs 
and  shouts  of  that  happy  throng  as  their  bursting 
joy  went  up  to  heaven.     I  know   I   feel  the  old 


Providence  Provides, 


223 


"  Jerusalem  fire  "  warming  my  heart  as  I  write.  If 
these  old  time  "agapoes"  were  but  a  foretaste  of 
heaven,  then  what  will  the  glory  be  when — 

"  We  shout  by  turns  the  bursting  joy, 
And  all  eternity  employ 
In  songs  around  the  throne." 

Eev.  John  Dempster  was  the  presiding  elder  of 
the  district.  He  had  written  to  a  prominent  minis 
ter  of  superior  ability  to  preach  at  the  quarterly 
meeting,  but  such  was  the  popularity  of  the  elder 
that  the  leading  men  of  the  church  protested  against 
the  change,  claiming  the  morning  sermon  for  their 
presiding  elder  and  proposing  that  Bro.  L.  preach  in 
the  afternoon.  The  elder  was  obhged  to  submit  to 
their  demands. 

John  Dempster  was  a  brilliant  preacher.  He  was 
converted  at  a  camp.meeting  when  a  young  man. 
His  occupation  was  that  of  a  tin-peddler.  While 
pursuing  his  vocation  he  passed  the  grove  where  the 
meeting  was  held,  and  prompted  by  curiosity,  turned 
aside  to  see  the  gathering  and  witness  the  exercises 
that  he  had  heard  chara<3terized  as  extravagant  and 
boisterous. 

Hitching  his  horse  to  a  tree  and  leaving  his  ped- 
dling wagon  in  the  grove,  he  mingled  with  the  crowd 
who  gathered  around  the  preachers  stand  to  hear 
the  word  of  life.  The  old  "  Damascus  blade,"  with 
its  sharp  point  and  keen  double  edge  pierced  his 
heart,  and  in  the  anguish  of  his  soul  he  cried  out : 
"  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ? "    He  continued  at 


224       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

the  meeting  till  its  close,  and  found  the  "  pearl  of 
great  price."  It  was  said  that  he  was  the  only  con- 
vert of  the  meeting,  the  weather  being  unfavorable 
and  but  few  people  attending.  It  might  seem  to 
those  ardent  itinerants  that  they  had  toiled  in  vain ; 
but  when  they  knew  the.  man  and  measured  the 
magnitude  of  his  work,  they  were  satisfied  that  the 
results  of  that  meeting  were  grand  beyond  humai! 
conception,  and  far  reaching  as  the  cycles  of  eter- 
nity. 

His  conversion  awakened  in  his  soul  an  ardent 
thirst  for  knowledge.  Purchasing  books  as  far  as 
his  limited  means  would  allow,  he  spent  all  his  leisure 
time  in  study;  often  depriving  himself  of  needed 
rest,  he  consumed  the  midnight  oil  to  acquire  an 
education.  He  not  only  became  a  good  English 
scholar,  but  mastered  the  dead  languages  and  became 
proficient  in  lelles  lettres.  Although  self-made,  few 
men  of  scholastic  training  excelled  him  in  profound 
research  and  breadth  of  scholarship. 

He  entered  the  Itinerancy  and  became  one  of  the 
first  pulpit  orators  of  the  age.  He  attracted  crowds 
to  his  ministry  and  charmed  and  profited  them  by 
his  lofty  eloquence.  Whether  a  circuit  rider,  a  sta- 
tioned preacher,  a  presiding  elder,  or  president  of  a 
college  he  was  always  popular;  both  the  learned 
and  the  unlearned  were  drawn  to  his  ministry,  and 
moved  by  the  power  of  his  oratory. 

Dr.  D.  preached  at  this  quarterly  meeting  from 
Isa.  xii :  1 :  "  O  Lord  I  will  praise  Thee ;  though  thou 
wast  angry  with  me,  thine  anger  is  turned  away. 


Providence  Provides. 


225 


and  thou  comfortest  me."  His  argument  on  the 
divine  anger  was  a  masterly  effort,  confuting  the 
errors  of  Universahsm  on  the  one  hand  and  Calvin- 
ism on  the  other.  Clear  and  convincing  was  his 
description  of  mercy  to  the  penitent  in  turning  away 
God's  anger  from  liim,  and  as  he  dwelt  on  the  divine 
comfort  revealed  in  the  pardoned  heart,  he  rose  with 
the  occasion  as  the  divine  afflatus  inspired  him,  and 
hearts  melted  and  glowed  in  the  riches  of  abounding 
grace.  But  when  he  came  to  the  praise  to  be  offered : 
'•  O  Lord  I  will  praise  thee,"  the  pent  up  emotions  of 
the  spirit  baptized  worshipers  broke  out  in  rapturous 
praise.  "  O  Lord  I  will  praise  thee "  was  literally 
fulfilled.  Oh !  it  was  a  propitious  season  ;  ministers 
and  people  were  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and 

tongues  of  fire  spake  His  praise. 

15 


226       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTEE  XY. 


A  PLEASANT  CHANGE. 


[HE  Oneida  annual  conference  met  this  year  in 
the  city  of  Oswego,  in  the  west  M.  E.  Church, 
July,  1S35.  We  reached  the  city  Monday 
morning  in  time  for  the  conference,  examinations. 
Brother'  C.  W.  Leet  and  myself  were  assigned  to  a 
brother  LilHs  for  entertainment  during  the  session. 
He  lived  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  in  a  large 
wooden  tenement,  divided  into  four  dwellings,  occu- 
pied by  as  many  separate  families.  Each  family 
entertained  two  preachers,  while  several  others  were 
quartered  among  the  families  around  us.  This  made 
it  very  pleasant  for  us,  as  we  enjoyed  their  goodly 
fellowship  to  and  fro,  from  our  lodgings  to  the  con- 
ference room. 

My  host  was  a  good,  honest,  mechanic,  frugal  and 
industrious,  a  devoted  christian  and  an  ardent  Meth- 
odist. He  was  not  a  man  given  to  reading,  but 
what  he  lacked  in  knowledge,  was  made  up  in  zeal. 
He  was  one  of  the  shouting  kind,  and  his  family 
altar  rang  night  and  morning  with  bursts  of  praise. 
He  thought  he  had  no  time  for  reading  the  bible, 
but  just  as  the  morning  meal  was  ended,  the  family 


i 


A  Pleasant  Change.  227 

fell  on  their  knees,  and  he  offered   up  an  ardent 
lialleluiah  prayer,  and  off  to  his  work. 

We  proposed  to  change  the  order  of  his  family 
worship  a  httle,  by  reading  a  portion  of  scripture 
and  making  the  prayer  shorter.  We  showed  him 
that  it  was  God's  will  that  we  should  search  the 
scriptures  daily,  that  the  bible  laid  the  foundation  of 
piety,  gave  us  thought,  directed  and  instructed  in  all 
things,  taught  us  how  to  pray,  and  should  be  read  in 
connection  with  family  prayer.  Religion  was  light 
as  well  as  heat.  It  called  for  action  as  well  as 
shouting. 

If  a   man's    religion   was    all    emotion   without 
knowledge,  it  would  fail  in  the  day  of  trial,  and  be 
swept  away  by  the  first  errorist  that  came  along, 
whether  he  was  a  Mormon  or  an  Arian.     We  told 
him  that   David,  Isaiah,  Paul,  and   other   inspired 
men  were  famous  shouters,  but  they  stood  on  a  good 
foundation  of  knowledge.     It  was  the  inhabitant  of 
the  Eock  that  sang  and  shouted  from  the  top  of  the 
mountains.     He  was  a  teachable  man  and  conformed 
to  our  instructions;  but  in  after  years  was  swept  off 
by  the  Miilerite  delusion,  and  running  into  the  vaga- 
ries and   errors  of  the  second   adventists,  lost  his 
early  happiness,  and  became  sour  and  fault-finding. 
We  met  the  examining  committee  Monday  morn- 
mg  at  9  o'clock,  and  were  put  through  eight  sessions 
of  four  hours  each  ;  Monday  and  Tuesday  three  ses- 
sions, and  two  afternoons  after  the  conference  had 
commenced.     I  don't  know  how  my  associates  felt 
m  coming  before  the  committee,  but  no  timid  school 


228       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

boy  ever  felt  more  abashed  when  summoned  before 
the  dreaded  pedagogue,  than  I  did.  "when  I  to  the 
awful  presence  came."  But  the  committee  was  made 
up  of  wise  and  excellent  men,  who  knew  how  to 
dispel  our  fears  and  make  us  feel  quite  at  home  m 

their  presence.  . 

WiU  the  reader  please  pardon  me  w  1  give  my 
first  impressions  of  some  of  these  great  and  good 

men.  „    ,  ... 

Dr  George  Peck  was  chairman  of  the  committee. 

He  was  then  in  the  strength  of  his  manhood,  had  a 
stron''  hold  on  the  affections  and  confidence  of  the 
church ;  was  a  rising  man,  and  gave  promise  of  great 
ability  and  usefulness,  which  was  more  than  met  m 
his  after  life.     He  was  in  every  respect  quahfled  tor 
the  chairmanship  of   such  a  committee.    Wise  to 
decide  questions  on  which  his  colleagues  differed  ; 
kind   firm,  genial,  the  life  of  the  company  ;  always 
ready  to  dispel  the  shadows,  if  he  saw  them  setthng 
on  any  drooping  candidate.     His  loud  ringing  laugh 
kept  all  parties   in  the  best  of  humor,  and  was  a 
benediction  to  the  poor  fellows  whom  they  were 
"  putting  through  the  mill."    He  was  closely  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  the  church  in  his  day :  a 

great  and  good  man. 

Joseph  Castle  was  a  man  of  no  common  mold. 
His  general  appearance  was  prepossessing.  He  was 
an  able  divine,  studious  in  his  habits,  commanding 
respect  from  aU ;  a  strong  forcible  speaker,  pro- 
found, logical  and  eloquent,  always  filling  the  best 
stations  in  the  conference.     He  was  a  man  of  decided 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


229 


opinions  and  knew  how  to  maintain  them.  Was  a 
formidable  opponent,  and  few  cared  to  meet  him  in 
a  conflict.  After  years  of  faithful  service  in  Oneida 
conference,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Philadelphia 
conference,  and  ranked  among  its  ablest  men  for 
many  years.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  loved  and 
esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

David  A.  Shepherd,  was  then  in  his  prime.  A 
man  of  strength  and  usefulness,  commanding  strong 
positions.  He  was  democratic  in  his  politics,  and 
stood  by  the  party  when  but  few  ministers  were 
found  in  it,  in  the  north.  AVhen  the  party  was  dom- 
inant in  the  State,  he  was  appointed  by  them  to  the 
chaplaincy  of  the  Auburn  State  Prison  at  different 
times.  It  was  said  that  he  was  about  the  onlv  can- 
didate  they  had,  at  least  the  only  one  they  brought 
forward.  But  he  made  an  excellent  chaplain  and 
did  a  good  work  for  the  unfortunates. 

Zachariah  Paddock  was  one  of  the  most  amiable 
and  dignified  men  on  the  board.  His  physique  was 
symmetrical,  and  in  his  early  manhood  was  hand- 
some in  person.  He  was  a  man  of  studious  habits, 
reached  a  fair  degree  of  scholarship,  and  wrote  fre- 
(juently  for  the  church  periodicals.  He  was  a  good 
])reacher,  though  not  profound ;  graceful  in  manner, 
with  a  rich  voice  of  great  sweetness,  and  one  one  of 
the  best  singers  of  his  day.  He  filled  the  leading 
churches  of  his  conference,  was  generally  sought 
for,  and  happy  was  the  church  which  secured  him 
as  its  pastor.  He  was  a  true,  faithful,  Methodist 
preacher,  made  a  good  record,  lived  to  a  serene  old 


I 


230       Eeminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

age,  died  a  triumphant  death,  and  won  a  victor's 

crown. 

The  other  members  of  the  committee  are  equally 
worthy  of    notice,  but  not  as  well  known  to  the 

writer. 

There  were  at  least  twenty-three  received  on  pro- 
bation in  the  class  of  1834,  and  they  all  passed  their 
examinations  creditably  to  themselves  and  satisfac- 
torily to  tht  conference,  and  were  received  into  full 
connection,  and  graduated  to  deacon  s  orders,  at  the 
end  of  their  two  years  probation,  in  1836,  except 
A.  Foremar,  who  retired  from  the  work. 

The  names  of  these  cherished  brethren  are  now 
before  me,  and  as  I  review  tiiem,  what  stirring  memo- 
ries are  awakened,  as  I  look  over  their  eventful  lives. 
They  acted  well  their  part  in  the  army  of  the  Lord. 
Many  of  them  sleep  in  a  Christian  grave,  and  have 
received  the  Master's  "  well  done."  Others  remain 
unto  this  day,  ''  faint  yet  pursuing."  All  who  are 
alive  are  on  the  superannuated  list,  except  Luke 
Hitchcock,  D.D.,  and  the  writer  of  these  pages. 

The  names  of  this  class,  alphabetically  arranged, 
are  as  follows  :  D.  W.  Bristol,  J.  B.  Benham,  Zelto 
Barnes,  L.  S.  Bennett,  A.  J.  Crandall,  Boss  Clark, 
A.  E.  Daniels,  James  Erwin,  Daniel  Fancher,  ^\lex. 
Foreman,  I.  L.  Hunt,  Luke  Hitchcock,  Daniel 
Holmes,  S.  Kingsley,  W.  D.  Moore,  Isaac  Parks, 
J.  E.  Robie,  Orra  Squires,  J.  D.  Torry,  W.  W.  White, 
T.  D.  Wire,  and  L.  S.  Weaver. 

Ross  Clark  was  the  first  out  of  this  class,  accord- 
incr  to  mv  recollection,   who  exchanged   earth  for 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


231 


heaven.  His  ministerial  life  was  short,  but  earnest 
and  successful.  He  was  admitted  into  full  connec- 
tion at  the  first  session  of  Black  River  Conference, 
held  at  Watertown,  September  1,  1836,  and  died 
before  the  year  closed.  He  served  the  Black  River 
circuit  while  a  probationer  in  the  conference,  was 
greatly  beloved  by  the  people,  and  had  many  seals 
to  his  ministrv. 

He  was  a  fine  appearing  young  man,  thick  set, 
well  formed,  with  a  fresh,  open  countenance  beam- 
ing with  kindness  and  inteUigence.  On  the  charges 
which  he  served,  his  memory  is  as  "  ointment  poured 
forth." 

The  older  people  still  speak  of  him  with  tender- 
ness and  affection.  His  race  was  short,  but  "  that 
hfe  is  long  that  answers  life's  great  end." 

A.  J.  Crandall  was  active  in  the  examinations, 
with  vivid  imagination,  and  ready  response.  He 
was  fresh  from  the  seminary,  and  confident  in  his 
abiht}^,  yet  modest  and  unassuming.  He  was  among 
the  youngest  men  in  the  class,  if  not  the  youngest, 
and  appeared  to  great  advantage.  He  was  short  in 
stature,  well  formed,  and  quick  in  action.  He  was 
youthful  in  appearance,  with  a  ruddy  countenance, 
and  gave  promise  of  an  active  successful  life.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  useful  members 
of  the  Oneida  Conference,  filling  their  best  appoint- 
ments, and  in  all  his  charges  doing  a  good  work  for 
the  Master.  He  was  selected  by  the  Bishop,  on 
account  of  his  wisdom,  prudence,  zeal,  and  abihty, 
to  take  charge  of  the  large,  inteUigent,  and  wealthy 


232       EeminUcences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

church  in  St.  Louis,  which  adhered  to  the  M.  E. 
Church,  after  our  Southern  brethren  had  separated 
from  us  on  account  of  slavery.  Brother  CrandaU 
was  the  right  man  for  the  right  place,  maintaining 
our  cause  amid  bitter  prejudices  and  strong  opposi- 
tion. His  success  was  marked  in  this  responsible 
field  of  labor,  in  bringing  order  out  of  confusion, 
reducing  things  to  system,  and  promoting  the  work 

of  God. 

•  He  fell  at  his  post,  in   the  midst  of  a  glorious 
revival,  battUng  for  God  and  humanity.     His  death 
scene  was  touching  and  triumphant,  although  his 
sufferings  were  great  and  his  reason  dethroned,  yet 
the  ruling  passion  was  strong  in  death.     His  wan- 
dering mind  was  full  of  the  revival,  and  his  ardent 
spirit  was  intent  upon  saving  souls.     The  last  hour 
of  his  life  was  spent  in  conducting  a  religious  ser- 
vice.    He  announced  the  hymns,  offered  an  appro- 
priate prayer,  preached  an  excellent,  earnest  sermon, 
called  for  a  class  meeting,  as  was  the  custom  of  the 
day,  spoke  to  each  member  in  turn,  gave  advice 
suited  to  every  case,  sung  the  doxology,  raised  his 
trembling  hands,  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  as 
he  uttered  the  amen  with  faltering  voice,  his  hands 
fell  on  the  pillow,  '^  and  he  was  not,  for  God  took 
him." 

"  Servant  of  God,  well  done ! 
Thy  glorious  warfare's  past ; 
The  battle's  fought ;  the  race  is  won, 
And  thou  art  crowned  at  last." 

J.  B.  Benham  was  a  man  of  good  natural  and 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


233 


acquired  abilities ;  deeply  pious,  and  devoted  to  the 
work.  After  several  years  spent  in  the  pastoral 
work,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Oneida  Annual  Con- 
ference, he  was  appointed  by  the  authorities  of  the 
church  as  a  missionarv  to  Liberia,  on  the  western 
coast  of  Africa.  This  was  the  first  foreign  mission 
established  bv  our  church. 

Our  domestic  missions  in  the  west  and  south,  and 
through  the  Canadas,  especially  among  the  Indians, 
had  engrossed  our  attention,  and  so  far  exhausted 
the  ability  of  our  weak,  but  growing  societies.  But 
this  mission  gave  a  fresh  impetus  to  the  cause,  and 
awakened  a  genei:al  interest  among  our  people  for 
the  salvation  of  the  heathen. 

The  appointment  of  Melville  B.  Cox  and  Brother 
Wright  to  that  work,  their  spirit  of  consecration, 
their  missionary  speeches,  and  the  ready  sacrifice  of 
their  lives  for  the  salvation  of  that  wronged  and 
degraded  race,  roused  the  enthusiasm  of  the  church, 
and  kindled  a  missionary  fire  both  North  and  South. 

Just  before  Mr.  Wright  left  this  country,  he  visited 
his  aged  mother,  and  on  parting  she  threw  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  and  amid  her  tears,  cried  in  the 
anguish  of  her  soul,  '^  0  my  son,  hoio  can  I  give  thee 
up  f  "  Whilst  he,  convulsed  with  grief,  and  trem- 
bling ^vith  emotion,  responded,  "  O  Africa,  how  can 
I  give  thee  up  f  " 

This  was  a  response  worthy  of  the  man,  and  the 
cause  to  which  he  was  consecrated.  And  when  the 
heroic  Cox    was   sinking  in  death,  he  said:  *'Tell 


234      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


the  Missionary  Board  that  though  a  thousand  fall 
let  not  Africa  he  giveii  upp 

Both  these  self  sacrificing  men  have  found  a  grave 
in  Africa,  and  sleep  beneath  the  shade  of  her  palm 
trees;  vet  their  dyino^  utterances  have  been  the 
watchword  of  the  Church. 

"  Hov^  can  I  give  thee  up  f  "  If  a  thousand  fall 
we'll  not  abandon  the  heathen,  and  so  the  Church 
has  been  pushing  on  the  work. 

Brother  Benham  was  moved  by  the  Macedonian 
call,  and  offered  himself  for  the  African  field.  After 
laboring  for  a  time  in  that  malarious  climate  he  was 
prostrated  by  the  fever  so  fatal  to  the  white  man, 
and  was  ordered  bv  the  Missionary  Board  to  return 
to  America,  where  after  rest  and  skillful  medical 
treatment,  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  resume 
his  work  among  his  brethren  of  the  conference, 
although  he  never  fully  regained  his  health. 

He  closed  his  eventful  life  among  his  friends  in 
Xewfield,  Tompkins  county,  X.  Y.  "He  was  a 
good  man,  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and 
much  people  was  added  unto  the  church." 

Isaac  Parks  was  shrewd  and  wittv,  and  rose  to 
be  a  man  of  considerable  eminence.  He  regarded 
himself  as  set  apart  for  the  defence  of  the  truth; 
was  a  great  doctrinal  preacher,  ready  to  give  or 
accept  a  challenge ;  and  excelling  as  a  debater,  was 
often  engaged  in  theological  discussions.  He  was  a 
strong  opponent,  able,  logical,  shrewd,  and  sarcastic ; 
and  no  ordinary  man  could  cope  with  him. 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


235 


He  was  in  his  element  when  battling  Universalism, 
Calvinism,  Arianism,  and  all  the  bad  "  isms  "  of  tlie 
dav,  and  was  a  terror  to  errorists,  and  evil  doers  in 
general. 

But  his  end  was  peace.  He  could  say  with  St. 
Paul,  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith.  Henceforth  there 
is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 
Lord,  the  Eighteous  Judge,  will  give  me  at  that 
day." 

J.  E.  Kobie  was  a  vouno^  man  of  liberal  education, 
a  graduate  of  Weslevan  University,  and  an  active 
and  energetic  man.  When  he  entered  the  ministry 
he  dressed  about  as  he  did  in  college  life,  and  was 
considered  by  some  of  the  old  Methodists  as  proud 
,and  dandyish.  But  he  was  independent,  and  not 
disposed  to  conform  in  dress  to  any  churchly  pattern. 

He  was  a  genial  spirit,  social  in  his  habits,  and 
devoted  to  his  friends :  was  a  man  of  literary  taste, 
devoted  to  journalism  and  published  and  edited  the 
Aiiburn  Banner,  under  the  direction  of  a  committee 
of  preachers  appointed  by  the  patronizing  confer- 
ences. He  was  also  connected  with  the  Northern 
Christian  Advocate,  at  its  commencement,  and 
originated  and  published  the  Buffalo  Advocate^  for 
several  years.  He  resumed  the  itinerancy  before 
his  death,  and  was  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Buffalo 
District  for  four  consecutive  vears. 

I  met  him  frequently  during  the  last  few  yeai^  of 
his  life,  and  admired  his  warm  Christian  spirit,  and 
growing  piety.     His  life  was  an  illustration  of  the 


28f7       lieminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

words  of  the  wise  man  :  '^  The  path  of  the  just  is 
as  the  shining  light,  that  shineth  more  and  more 
unto  the  perfect  day."  Earth  lost,  but  heaven 
gained,  when  John  E.  Robie  died. 

W.  W.  White  was  an  excellent  preacher ;  a  man 
of  great  pulpit  power.  Subject  at  times  to  depres- 
sion and  discouragement,  but  rising  in  the  Spirit's 
might,  above  them.  He  would  storm  the  gates  of 
hell,  snatch  sinners  from  the  fire,  and  lead  them  to 
the  blood  of  Calvary.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  piety, 
and  fully  consecrated  to  the  work  of  soul  saving. 
Many  will  deck  his  crown  in  the  great  coronation 
day.     He  fell  at  his  post  with  the  harness  on. 

"  It  is  not  death  to  die — 
To  leave  this -weary  road, 
And  mid  the  brotherhood  on  high, 
To  be  at  home  with  God." 

D.  W.  Bristol  and  W.  D.  Moore  have  recentlv 
exchanged  the  cross  for  the  crown,  and  are  with  the 
Church  triumphant  before  the  Throne.  Their  laurels 
are  fresh  as  the  buds  of  spring,  and  more  enduring 
than  the  fame  of  marble  heroes.  They  live  in  the 
hearts  of  thousands,  and  no  words  of  mine  are 
needed  to  bring  them  to  remembrance.  They  sleep 
in  Jesus,  and  will  greet  us  in  the  resurrection 
morning. 

Other  members  of  the  class,  with  whom  I  was  less 
acquainted,  have  fought  the  good  fight,  reached  the 
goal,  and  gained  a  crown.  Their  record  is  on  high. 
Others  are  standing  on  the  western  slope,  with  their 
faces  heavenward,  singing — 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


237 


*'  We'll  wait  till  Jesus  comes, 
And  we'll  be  gathered  home." 

Blessed  gathering !  May  we  all  be  there,  without  a 
wanderer  lost — a  blood  washed  company  in  heaven. 

Our  examinations  were  finished.  The  committee 
seemed  determined  that  episcopal  hands  should  not 
be  laid  on  heads  too  dull  to  learn,  or  skulls  too  idle 
to  acquire  knowledge.  The  course  of  study  was 
lar«:e  for  a  two  vears  coui^e.  I  recall  fifteen  dif- 
ferent  branches,  and  there  were  probably  others 
that  do  not  occur  to  me,  and  on  each  we  received  a 
careful  examination.  It  was  a  grand  relief  when 
the  course  was  extended  to  four  vears. 

I  have  a  very  pleasant  recollection  of  some  little 
episodes  which  occurred  to  break  the  monotony  and 
throw  oif  the  pressure  of  that  fatiguing  drill.  I  will 
mention  onlv  two.  One  of  the  committee  was 
examining  the  class  on  grammar ;  he  gave  me  a  sen- 
tence to  parse,  which  I  did,  and  he  pronounced  it 
wrong.  I  believed  it  right,  and  maintained  my 
point.  He  referred  it  to  the  class  and  they  sustained 
my  views.  But  the  examiner  would  not  yield,  and 
the  class  appealed  to  the  chairman.  This  brought 
up  the  question  in  the  committee,  "  Is  not  each 
examiner  responsible  to  the  conference  for  the 
studies  assigned  him,  and  has  the  chairman  juris- 
diction over  points  outside  of  his  own  studies  i " 
This  awakened  quite  a  discussion  in  the  committee, 
but  it  was  finallv  decided  that  it  was  the  chairman's 
duty  to  decide  such  questions,  and  his  decision  was 
in  favor  of  the  class.     This  decision  was  verv  o^rati- 


I 


238       Reminisce^ices  of  Lady  Circuit  Life. 

tying  to  the  class  in  two  respects.  It  gave  them 
courage  to  be  sustained  in  their  views,  and  the  dis- 
cussion had  used  up  half  an  hour  of  the  time  allotted 
to  this  branch. 

During  the  examination  on  rhetoric,  the  chairman 
requested  the  members  of  the  class  to  each  give  an 
hyperbole,  and  after  they  had  complied,  he  capped 
the  climax  by  representing  *'a  Yankee,  who 
described  the  fleetness  of  his  horse  by  saying,  that 
while  in  the  pasture,  a  streak  of  lightning  came  down 
and  chased  the  horse  three  times  around  a  ten  acre 
lot,  and  could  not  catch  him,"  and  then  the  doctor 
threw  his  head  back  and  burst  into  a  loud  horse 
laugh  in  which  we  all  joined.  Every  head  was 
cleared  and  we  were  ready  to  go  on  again.  But ''  it 
is  a  long  road  that  has  no  turning,"  and  so  our 
examinations  came  to  a  close,  and  the  reports  were 
made  out  to  be  submitted  to  the  conference. 

The  coming  together  of  all  the  itinerants  from 
Chateaugay  woods  on  the  north,  to  the  extreme 
southwestern  boundary,  made  a  large  and  imposing 
body  for  that  time,  and  was  a  day  marked  in  the 
calendar  of  Methodism  for  its  interest  and  impor- 
tance. 

It  was  a  red  letter  day  to  the  busy  workers  in  the 
vineyard  to  leave  the  scenes  of  their  toils,  their  bat- 
tles, and  their  victories,  and  meet  together  to 
recount  their  trials,  hardships,  and  successes,  and  lay 
down  their  trophies  at  Immanuel's  feet. 

It  was  a  high  day  to  the  societies  within  a  radius 
of  forty  or  fifty  miles  of  the  seat  of  the  conference. 


A  Pleasant  Change, 


23  J) 


They  were  cheered  by  the  presence  of  these  chival- 
rous circuit-riders,  who  halted  among  them  for  dinner, 
or  to  spend  the  night,  on  their  way  to  conference. 
And  many  of  these  sturdy  pioneers  would  foot  it  to 
the  place  of  meeting,  with  luncheon  in  their  knai> 
sack,  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  their  loved  pastors, 
profiting  by  their  serious  exhortation,  prayer  and 
songs.  The  whole  country  was  stirred,  and  Oh! 
how  the  societies  prayed  for  their  ministers,  that 
God  would  meet  them  at  their  great  convocations ; 
endow  them  with  power  from  on  high;  guide 
them  in  their"  deliberations  and  bring  them  to  the 
right  conclusions.  Give  wisdom  to  the  appointing 
power,  that  in  every  case  the  right  man  might  be 
sent  to  the  right  place.  That  God  would  send 
them  a  man  after  his  own  heart,  full  of  faith,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  they  might  be  prepared  to 
receive  him  as  God's  appointed  messenger,  and  co- 
operate with  him  in  his  soul-saving  work. 

Our  people  fully  believed  in  the  "  right  of  petition," 
and  used  their  liberty.  Instead,  however,  of  appoint- 
ing "  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  Bishop "  to  ac- 
quaint him  with  their  peculiar  circumstances,  and 
instruct  him  in  his  duty  to  send  them  Kev.  Mr.  Star 
Orator,  or  leave  them  to  be  supplied,  they  resolved 
themselves  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  and  ear- 
nestly petitioned  the  great  Bishop  and  Shepherd  of 
souls,  to  send  them  a  man  to  save  sinners,  and  build 
up  Zion.  And  when  the  new  preacher  came  they 
said,  this  is  '^  GocTs  rnan — Heaven  appointed  ;"  and 
received  him  as  an  angel  of  light.     O,  how  these 


240       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

earnest  prayers,  "offered  with  strong  crying  and 
tears,"  come  to  my  memory  and  warm  my  heart : 
"  That  God  would  make  his  ministers  like  flaming 
fire."  "  That  He  would  send  them  forth  as  legates 
of  the  skies ;"  ''  That  He  would  help  them  to  storni 
hell  and  pluck  sinners  as  brands  from  the  burning  f 
"  That  God  would  teach  them  the  grammar  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  the  logic  of  the  skies  f  "  That  God 
would  aid  them  to  use  skillfully  the  old  Damascus 
blade,  and  scatter  the  Jerusalem  fire  all  over  the 
circuit  'P  and  that  they  might  be  successful  in  build- 
m(r  up  the  church  in  holiness  and  power,"  etc.,  etc. 

How  could  a  preacher  fail  whose  heart  was  in  the 
work,  backed  u})  by  such  prayers,  and  aided  by  such 
Pentecostal  workers. 

Here  hes  the  great  secret  of  our  success.  While 
I  would  not  detract  one  iota  from  the  culture  and 
improvement  of  modern  times,  yet  would  it  not  be 
well  to  mix  with  it  a  httle  of  the  primitive  simpli- 
city, loyalty,  fire  and  push  of  those  early  times. 

When  the  brethren  prayed  in  the  Saturday  even- 
ing praver  meeting,  that  God  would  make  his  word 
the  next  day  "  Like  a  nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place," 
*'  Ave,  aye,^  Lord "  responded  Sammy  Hicks  "  and 
clik  (clinch)  it  on  the  other  side."  When  one  prayed 
that  the  minister  might  be  like  a  polished  shaft  in 
the  quiver  of  the  Almighty,  the  village  blacksmith 
responded,  "  Amen,  and  clap  fire  to  him  Lord."  The 
responses  were  sometimes  crude,  but  to  the  point.  I 
hope  the  Methodists  will  keep  up  their  responses  and 
shouts. 


A  Pleasant  Change. 


241 


There  is  a  beauty  in  moonbeams  playing  on  ice- 
bergs in  Arctic  Oceans,  but  give  me  the  warm 
sunshine  flashing  on  smiling  fields,  and  flowing 
waters  in  a  summer  land. 

"  I  used  to  go  to  the  Methodist  meetings,"  said 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  "and  their  spiritual  singing, 
ringing  amens,  and  hallelujahs,  stirred  and  revived 
my  spiritual  life.  But  I  miss  them  now.  They  are 
getting  to  be  as  dull  and  formal  as  other  churches." 
Well  might  the  inspired  David  say,  in  the  rapture  of 
liis  spirit,  "  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting  ;  and  let  all  the  people  say 
amen — Praise  ye  the  I^rdT 

Nothing  can  be  more  exhilarating  than  the  gath- 
erings at  an  annual  conference.  The  hand  shaking, 
the  greetings,  the  pleasant  words,  the  ringing  laugh, 
the  joy  beaming  faces,  and  the  cordial  inquiries 
after  health  and  prosperity.  It  has  always  seemed 
to  me  to  be  the  best  exhibition  of  brotlierly  love 

ft 

that  earth  can  give,  and  I  doubt  whether  any  other 

body  of   men  can  excel  a  company  of   Methodist 

preachers  in  disinterested  affection.     Many  things  in 

particular,   combine   to   produce   this,  —  a  christian 

spirit,  their  call  to  the  ministry,  their  consecration 

to  the  same  work,  the  peculiar  nature  of  that  work, 

and  the  interest  they  take  in  its  prosperity,  bind 

them  together  like  "  a  three  fold  cord  which  cannot 

easily  be  broken."     Such  a  meetino;  overbalances  the 

trials  and  crosses  of  the  year. 

My  first  experience  in  such  a  scene  proved  that 

16 


242      Eeminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

the  gospel  alone  could  originate  a  fraternity  of  souls, 
a  great  brotherhood  of  love. 

"  In  one  fraternal  bond  of  love, 
One  fellowship  of  mind, 
The  saints  below,  and  saints  above 
Their  bhss  and  glory  find." 

The  preachers  came  to  the  conference  from  their 
widely  scattered  fields  of  labor,  a  numerous  body  of 
earnest  men.  I  looked  upon  them  with  veneration 
and  delight,  and  felt  myself  unworthy  of  a  place  in 
such  a  ministry.  The  candidates  for  examination 
were  kept  so  close  in  the  committee  room,  that  we 
saw  but  little  of  the  preachers,  after  they  reached 
the  city  and  were  directed  to  their  lodgings,  until 
the  hour  appointed  for  opening  at  9  o'clock,  on  Wed- 
nesday morning. 

The  conference  was  opened  by  the  venerable 
Bishop  Hedding  who  presided  over  the  body.  He 
was  emphatically  a  great  man,  well  read,  deeply 
versed  in  knowledge,  profound  in  thought,  broad  in 
his  views,  sound  in  theology,  and  perhaps  never 
excelled  as  an  administrator.  He  exerted  a  strong 
influence,  not  only  through  his  own  church,  but  over 
other  churches ;  and  men  in  high  places  acknowl- 
edged his  greatness  and  power. 

His  ministry  attracted  men  of  prominence  in  the 
country,  and  one  of  the  most  profound  jurists  of  the 
age,  after  hearing  him  preach,  and  marking  his  abil- 
ity as  an  administrator  said,  "  If  that  man  was  not 
a'  Bishop,   he  would  be  President  of  the  United 


A  Pleasant  Change, 


243 


States."  And  yet  in  his  greatness  he  had  the  sim- 
plicity of  a  child  and  the  piety  of  a  saint.  I  think 
I  never  saw  such  a  beautiful  blending  of  simplicity 
and  power,  of  holiness  and  greatness,  as  I  witnessed 
in  the  character  of  this  great  and  good  man. 
Through  all  the  periods  of  his  eventful  life,  he 
retained  the  artlessness  of  childhood.  During  his 
last  sickness,  he  related  to  a  friend,  that  he  never 
went  to  sleep  a  single  night,  without  offering  up  to 
God  the  httle  prayer  which  he  learned  at  his  moth- 
er's knee — 


<<TV- 


Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 

I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep  ; 

And  if  I  die  before  I  wake, 

I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take 
For  Jesus  sake.    Amen." 

Our  Bishops  acquire  great  ability  in  presiding  over 
deliberative  assemblies.  They  are  skillful  tacticians ; 
thoroughly  versed  in  parhamentary  rules ;  and  it  is 
generally  believed  that  they  are  never  excelled,  and 
rarely  equalled  in  managing  business  with  facility 
and  order. 

I  have  been  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the  Na- 
tional Capitol,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  in 
the  State  Senate  and  Assembly,  in  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  several  of 
the  great  convocations  of  the  leading  churches  of 
sister  denominations,  but  have  never  witnessed  such 
perfect  control  and  able  management  in  presiding 
over  any  of  these  bodies,  as  I  have  seen  displayed 
by  the  Bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 


i 


244       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

presiding  over  Annual  and  General  Conferences. 
And  such,  I  believe,  is  the  general  verdict  of  all  close 
observers.  It  is  an  old  adage  that  "  practice  makes 
perfect,"  and  as  they  preside  so  frequently  over  large 
deliberative  bodies,  they  acquire  great  skill  m  con- 
trolling them,  and  pushing  business  with  dignity  and 

^  You  will  often  see  an  Annual  or  General  Confer- 
ence wrought  up  to  a  high  pitch  of  excitement  in 
the  discussion  of  some  important  subject,  on  which 
men  differ ;  but  a  Bishop  is  master  of  the  situation, 
equal  to  anv  emergency,  will  pilot  them  through  the 
storm,  bring  order  out  of  confusion,  and  keep  the 

debaters  in  place. 

A  prominent  Chief  Justice  used  to  say  that  he 
had  learned  many  a  valuable  lesson  in  the  apphca- 
tion  of  parliamentary  rules  from  Bishop  Ileddmg. 

The  opening  exercises  of  an  Annual  Conference 
are  solemn  and  impressive.  It  marks  an  epoch  in 
the  history  of  a  minister.  Another  year  has  passed, 
its  labors  and  responsibilities  are  recorded  above 
and  the  accounts  sealed  up  to  the  judgment  day. 
Another  page  is  to  be  written.  What  wiU  it  con- 
tain?   May  it  be  one  that  will  honor  the  Master  and 

gratify  us. 

The  hymns,  the  scripture  lesson,  and  the  prayer, 
all  refer  to  ministerial  life*,  awakening  searchings  of 
heart,  humihty,  prayer,  consecration  and  high  re- 
solves to  fidelity,  and  devotion  to  the  work  of  the 
Master.  What  yearning  of  soul  for  a  holy  heart,  a 
higher  life,  and  power  from  on  high. 


All  at  iU  and  always  at  it. 


245 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ALL    AT    IT,    AND    ALWAYS    AT    l'i\ 

^HE  Bishop's  remarks,  at  the  opening  of  the 
session,  were  pertinent,  eloquent,  and  affecting. 
Everything  was  new  to  me.  I  was  an  atten- 
tive observer  of  all  that  occurred.  The  roll  call  and 
the  responses  impressed  me  with  the  im]x>rtance  of 
being  ready  for  the  muster-roll,  when  we  "stand 
before  the  great  White  Throne,  and  the  books  are 
opened." 

The  appointment  of  committees,  the  arrangements 
for  the  sessions,  the  disciplinary  questions,  the  per- 
fect order,  the  dispatch  of  business,  the  introduc- 
tion of  visiting  brethren,  the  earnest  debates,  the 
brotherly  courtesy,  the  deference  shown  to  the  aged 
and  experienced,  and  the  good  feeling  that  prevailed 
through  the  entire  body,  impressed  my  boyish  mind 
very  deeply. 

But  what  interested  me  more  particularly  at  that 
time  were  the  crowded  houses  in  the  evening,  and 
the  fervor  and  unction  of  the  services.  We  held 
but  one  anniversary  during  the  session,  and  that  was 
a  missionary  meeting.  Had  preaching  every  even- 
ing, followed  by  a  rousing  exhortation  ;  seekers  came 


246       Reminiscences  of ,  Early  Circuit  Life. 

to  the  altar  nearly  every  meeting,  and  preachers 
and  laymen  prayed  with  an  energy  and  faith  that 
brought  heaven  down  to  earth. 

When  a  soul  was  converted,  and  arose  to  tell  of 
pardon  found,  the  shout  was  as  full  and  general  as 
I  ever  heard  it  in  the  back  woods  circuit,  aye,  more, 
for  take  an  hundred  and  fifty  preachers,  with  the 
baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  them,  and  the  joy 
of  angels  in  them  when  a  soul  is  converted,  and 
they  will  make  the  arches  ring.  They  never  stop 
to  think  about  offending  nice  ears,  but  throw  their 
clarion  voices  high  as  heaven,  jubilant  with  praise. 

I  remember  that  after  a  powerful   sermon,   one 
evening,  the  altar  was  filled  with  penitents.     Among 
them  knelt  a  poor  inebriate.     lie  seemed  but  the 
wreck  of  a  man ;  pale  and  trembling,  with  unkeihpt 
hair,  and  tattered  garments.     Some  of  the  preachers 
gave  him  particular  attention.     They  instructed  him, 
directed  his  faith  to  Clirist,  and  prayed  most  fer- 
vently  for  his   salvation.     They  told  him  of    his 
danger,  that  if  he  continued  in  liis  present  course, 
there  was   a  life    of    vagrancy  and   wretchedness 
before  him,  ending  in  a  drunkard's  hell,  and  they 
encouraged  him  to  seek  Christ  as  his  only  hope.     He 
alone  could  snatch  him  as  a  brand  from  the  burning, 
take  away  his  appetite  for  liquor,  restore  him  to 
manhood  and  honor,  and  bring  him  with  songs  and 
rejoicing  to  heaven.     Then  they  bowed  again  with 
him   in    praver,   and,  joining  faith  to  faith,  they 
wrestled   in '  prevailing   prayer  for  his   deliverance 
"  from  this  body  of  sin  and  death,"  and  for  the  wit- 


All  at  it^  and  always  at  it. 


247 


ness  of  his  adoption  into  the  family  of  God,  and 
God  honored  his  word  by  fulfilling  his  promise,  that 
"if  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth,  as  touching 
anything  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for 
them  of  mv  Father,  which  is  is  heaven.''  Here 
Avere  two  parties  agreed,  the  poor  awakened  drunk- 
ard and  the  earnest  ministers,  and  God  said,  "-It 
shall  he  done,-''  and  it  was  done.  There  stood  the 
poor  sinner,  every  nerve  unstrung,  the  wreck  of  his 
former  self,  but  now  a  new  creature,  his  face  radiant 
with  the  joy  of  pardon,  a  redeemed  man  bearing 
the  Divine  image.  After  speaking  of  the  removal 
of  the  burden  of  guilt,  and  the  peace  of  God  that 
filled  his  heart,  and  making  confession  of  his  sins, 
and  begging  earnestly  the  prayers  of  Christians, 
that  he  might  hold  out  in  religion  to  the  end,  one  of 
the  ministers  took  him  bv  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Mv 
dear  friend,  I  rejoice  for  what  God  has  done  for 
you ;  I  have  no  doubt  of  the  genuineness  of  your 
conversion,  but  remember  that  the  work  is  onlv 
begun.  You  have  a  frowning  world  to  face,  a 
tempting  devil  to  oppose,  and  a  strong  appetite  to 
overcome ;  3^ou  must  watch  and  fight  and  pray,  or 
vou  are  lost.  After  all  that  God  has  done,  and  is 
ready  to  do  for  you,  it  is  a  thousand  to  one  if  you 
ever  enter  heoA^enr 

I  lost  sio:ht  of  the  man  for  over  twentv-five  vears, 
and  the  circumstance  had  passed  from  my  mind, 
when  the  same  man  arose  in  one  of  mv  meetint^, 
some  distance  from  Oswego,  referred  to  his  conver- 
sion, and  said,  "  What  that  minister  said  to  me,  has 


248       Remmiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

kept  me  from  backsliding.  When  I  have  been 
tempted  to  drink,  and  was  on  the  eve  of  yielding,  it 
would  ring  in  my  ears  like  a  voice  from  heaven  : 
'It  is  a  thousand  to  one  if  you  ever  enter  heaven,' 
and  I  would  fly  from  the  tempter,  fight  against  my 
appetite  for  intoxicating  drinks,  and  pray  earnestly 
for  victory.  If  I  grew  cold  in  religion,  the  w^arning 
would  arouse  me  to  prayer.  If  I  was  inclined  to 
neglect  duty,  the  warning  would  come  to  me  like  an 
ins°piration,  '  It  is  a  thousand  to  one  if  you  ever  enter 
heaven:  It  has  been  a  talisman  in  time  of  tempta- 
tion and  peril,  and  God  has  kept  me  b};  His  grace 

up  to  this  hour." 

I  heard  afterwards  that  he  "  endured  hardness  as 
a  good  soldier,"  lived  a  faithful,  devoted  Christian 
life,  died  a  peaceful  death  and  gained  an  abundant 
entrance  into  heaven.  He  improved  the  one  chance 
through  faith,  and  escaped  the  nine  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  snares  and  dangers,  and  gained  the  city 
at  last.     "  A  word  spoken  in  due  season  how  good 

it  is." 

Dr.  Nathan  Bangs,  then  in  his  prime,  attended 
this  conference  as  a  visitor.  He  w^as  a  large  stalwart 
man,  carrying  his  head  leaning  to  one  side,  with  full 
heavy  voice,  a  profound  thinker,  a  clear  strong  writer, 
and  a  pow^erful  preacher.  He  threw  his  whole  soul 
into  his  work,  and  was  effective  in  his  pulpit  minis- 
trations. In  the  strength  of  his  manhood  he  would 
move  a  congregation  powerfully.  Men  and  women 
would  frequently  fall  under  the  power  of  his  elo- 
quence, and  lie  like  dead  men  aU  over  the  assembly  ; 


'.  «ar-iti^Airife»lif<!  aVats  -i 


All  at  it,  and  always  at  it. 


24D 


or  catching  his  enthusiasm,  shout  like  the  artillery 
of  the  heavens.  It  is  said  that  on  one  occasion, 
w^hile  preaching  at  one  of  the  great  sea-shore  camp 
meetings,  such  was  the  earnestness  and  unction  with 
which  he  spoke,  that  the  people  unconsciously  arose 
to  their  feet  and  stood  leaning  forward  toward  the 
speaker,  with  open  mouths  and  fixed  eyes,  spell- 
bound, unconscious  of  everything  but  the  prea<)her's 
theme,  until  a  shock  from  God's  battery  prostrated 
hundreds  on  the  ground,  and  a  shout  went  up  from 
the  excited  multitude,  "like  the  sound  of  many 
waters,"  drowning  the  voice  of  the  speaker,  w^ho 
swung  his  hat  and  shouted,  "Hurrah  for  Jesus! 
Hurrah  for  Jesus ! "     The  scene  beggared  description. 

The  Doctor's  sermon,  and  missionary  address,  made 
a  deep  impression,  the  memory  of  which  remains 
delightfully  with  me  to  this  day. 

In  his  missionary  speech,  he  gave  an  account  of  his 
labors  in  the  wilds  of  Canada  among  the  scattered 
settlements  and  sparse  population,  that  was  thrilling. 
The  camp  meetings ;  the  quarterly  meetings  and 
revivals ;  their  privations  and  suffering ;  their  scanty 
fare;  their  uncomfortable  cabins;  their  extreme 
poverty,  and  how  cheerfully  himself  and  fellow- 
laborers  endured  all  for  Christ's  sake,  and  the  souls 
for  whom  he  died,  saying  with  Paul,  "  But  none  of 
these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear 
unto  myself ;  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with 
joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of 
God." 


250       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

All  were  profoundly  interested  in  the  narrative, 
and  we  looked  upon  our  privations  as  nothing  in 
comparision. 

A  ludicrous  scene  occurred  in  the  midst  of   liis 
speech,  showing  that  "  it  is  but  a  step  from  the  sub- 
lime to  the  ridiculous."     The  Doctor  was  relating 
that  on  one  of  his  trips  from  settlement  to  settle- 
ment, after  traveling  forty  miles  through  an  unbroken 
forest,  he  reached  a  house  in  the  wilderness,  where  he 
found  entertainment  for  the  night.  Being  weary  with 
his  journey,  he  asked  the  lady  of  the  house  ii  she 
could  give  him  a  cup  of  tea ;  but  she  had  none.     He 
had  a  little  in  his  saddle-bags,  which  he  kept  for 
pressing  emergencies.     But  she  had  neither  tea-kettle 
nor  tea-pot,  and  thought  she  could  not  prepare  it ; 
but  with  the  Doctor  "  Necessity  was  the  mother  of 
invention."     In  looking  around  he  found  a  '^'skillet" 
in  which  the  water  could  be  boiled,  and  a  "  pon-in- 
ger  "  in  which  the  tea  could  be  steeped.     The  good 
woman,  pleased  with  his  success,  served  it  in  a  tin 
basin  without  a  saucer,  and  he  drank  the  fragrant 
beverage  which  "cheers  but  does  not  inebriate,"  to 
his  comfort  and  refreshment. 

Just  at  this  point  in  the  narrative,  John  Wallace, 
an  eccentric  local  preacher,  just  over  from  the  "  sod  " 
sliouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Hallelujah !  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest !"  He  made  the  church  ring 
with  his  boisterous  hosannas.  It  brought  the  Doc- 
tor to  a  pause,  and  excited  the  mirthfulness  of  the 
audience.  We  never  could  tell  what  made  the  Irish- 
man so  happy ;  whether  it  was  because  the  minister 


All  at  it,  and  aJicays  at  it. 


251 


crot  the  tea,  or  that  it  was  made  in  a  "  porringer,"  or 
drank  from  a  tin  basin. 

The  interruption  threw  the  Doctor  off  his  balance, 
and  it  took  him  some  time  to  rally  and  get  the  at- 
tention of  the  congregation  again.  He  had  stood 
the  shouts  of  thousands,  and  trmmphed  in  the  storm  ; 
but  a  single  shout,  out  of  time  and  place,  nearly 
broke  him  down. 

I  learned  this  lesson,  that  responses  and  shouts, 
when  prompted  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  do  good,  but 
when  they  are  man-made,  they  are  disagreeable  and 

Imrtful. 

"  Hark  I"  said  the  eccentric  Lorenzo  Dow,  pausing 
in  his  sermon :  "  I  hear  a  goat  bleat ;  that  is  not 
the  voice  of  a  sheep."  Some  hypocrite  was  ming- 
Ung  in  the  shout. 

Elder  Benjamin  S.  Paddock  used  to  say  at  camp 
meeting  "  Never  tip  the  vessel  to  make  it  run  over, 
but  if  it  flows  over  itself  it  will  do  good."  When 
one  shouts  through  ignorance  or  from  mere  excite- 
ment, "  hit  or  miss,"  it  is  disgusting  and  injurious. 
But  when  God  is  in  the  heart  and  voice,  the  shout 
or  response  is  accompanied  by  an  influence  that  will 
melt  and  move  for  good. 

Josiah  Keyes  was  one  of  the  strong  men  of  the 
conference.  He  had  already  attracted  general  atten- 
tion, and  was  rising  in  usefulness  and  popularity. 
He  was  a  close  student,  and  although  a  self-made 
man,  he  acquired  a  good  classical  education  ;  was 
familiar  with  the  languages  in  which  the  Bible  was 
orio-inallv  written ;  became  a  profound  theologian. 


252       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

a  pulpit  orator,  and  a  defender  of  the  faith.  He 
stood  prominent  among  the  strong  men  of  his  day. 
His  sermons  were  praised  for  the  terseness  of  their 
style,  the  strength  and  evangelical  character  of  their 
sentiments,  and  the  unction  and  power  of  ther  appli- 
cation. 

AVhile  on  a  district  in  central  Xew  York,  one  of 
his  preachers.  Father  Aylsworth  was  on  a  charge 
where  Universalism  was  very  stron^i:.  He  announced 
that  Elder  Keyes  would  preach  a  sermon  on  Univer- 
salism, Sunday  evening  after  quarterly  meeting, 
exposing  its  errors ;  and  inviting  all  to  attend. 

The  sermon  was  a  masterly  effort ;  it  exposed  the 
fallacy  of  that  doctrine,  its  corrupting  tendencies, 
and  left  no  foundation  for  them  to  stand  upon.  The 
pulpit  was  a  high  one,  with  a  step  rising  above  the 
platform  on  which  the  minister  stood,  and  used  as  a 
kneeling  stool.  As  the  elder  warmed  in  his  argu- 
ment he  would  mount  on  the  step,  and  rise  from 
climax  to  climax,  as  he  poured  the  burning  truth  on 
the  astonished  audience.  Then  he  would  step  down 
to  the  platform,  and  take  up  another  argument  de- 
liberately, clearly,  convincingly,  and  rise  again  to 
the  highest  altitude,  as  he  enforced  the  argument. 

Father  Aylesworth  sat  behind  him  in  the  pulpit, 
feeling  the  responsibility  of  the  occasion,  as  the 
Universalists  were  present  in  large  numbers,  with 
two  of  their  ministers.  Every  time  the  elder  would 
step  down  to  the  platform,  fearing  he  was  about  to 
close,  Brother  A.  would  shout  with  his  stentorian 
voice,  ''  Fall  another  tree  upon  thern^  Elder ^^^  and  so 


All  at  it,  and  ahcays  at  it. 


253 


he  kept  him  falling  trees  upon  them,  until  the  error 
was  a  crushed  and  mangled  corpse,  and  never  could 
be  resurrected  again  in  that  place. 

Bro.  K.  was  famous  for  falling  heav}-  trees  of 
truth  on  the  bulwarks  of  error,  grinding  ^^them  into 
powder. 

I  have  in  my  library  a  sermon  on  christian  perfec^ 
tion,  which  he  preached  at  a  camp-meeting  held  in 
Hopkinton,  X.  Y.,  July  12,  1S29,  and  published  by 
request  of  the  ministers  and  congregation,  which  for 
purity  of  style,  sweetness  of  spirit,  clearness  of  doc- 
trine, strength  of  argument,  ])ower  of  unction,  and 
force  of  application,  I  have  never  seen  equalled  bv 
the  most  eloquent  expounders  of  that  blessed  doc- 
trine in  modern  times. 

The  sermon  produced  a  great  effect  on  the  congre- 
gation, leading  many  into  the  fullness;  and  when 
circulated  in  pamphlet  form,  as  it  was  all  over  the 
wide  spread  Potsdam  district,  it  was  read  and 
studied  by  the  Methodists  of  that  region,  and  led 
some  to  my  knowledge,  into  the  experience  of  perfect 
love. 

The  Methodists  of  that  day  believed  in  the  doc- 
trine of  sanctification,  and  were  tender  on  the  subject ; 
many  of  them,  in  the  language  of  the  Disciphne,' 
were  ''groaning  after  it,"  and  "expecting  to  be 
made  free  from  sin  in  this  Hfe,"  and  when  a  sermon 
like  that  of  Elder  Keyes  was  preached,  how  it 
aroused  them  to  seek  it,  and  they  did  not  seek  it  in 
vain.  By  faith  the  blood  was  applied  to  cleanse  and 
keep. 


254       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

How  the  pleading  host,  in  one  of  those  great 
camp  meetings,  would  sing  in  the  language  of 
Charles  Wesley,  with  trusting  hearts — 

"  Sa\iour,  to  Thee  my  soul  looks  up, 
My  present  Saviour,  Thou! 
In  all  the  confidence  of  hope, 
I  claim  the  blessing  now. 

"  '  Tis  done !  Thou  dost  this  moment  save, 
With  full  salvation  bless ; 
Redemption  through  thy  blood  I  have, 
And  spotless  love  and  peace." 

What  waves  of  glory  would  roll  over  the  assembly. 
Many  of  God's  dear  children  obtained  the  blessing, 
lived  it,  let  their  light  shine,  and  led  others  into  the 
cleansing  fountain. 

I  recall  to  memory  a  goodly  company  of  these 
"  burning  and  shining  lights  " — Brothers  Denio,  Hall, 
Merrick,  Calvin  Danforth,  Sisters  Taylor,  Jemmer- 
son,  Phelps,  Webb,  Smith,  and  a  host  of  others,  who 
walked  in  the  light,  and  witnessed  to  the  truth. 
Their  record  is  on  high. 

I  never  knew  a  Methodist  in  those  times  oppose 
holiness.  They  believed  in  it ;  some  of  them  enjoyed 
it,  and  all  were  ready  to  unite  in  seeking  it. 

May  primitive  simplicity,  with  earnestness  and 
faith,  abide  in  the  church.  ^'  Holiness  becometh  Thy 
house,  O  Lord,  forever." 

Dr.  S.  Luckey,  then  editor  of  the  Christio/n  Advo- 
cate and" Journal^  preached  earnestly  on  Eom.  1-10. 
Fitch  Eeed  gave  us  a  stirring  sermon  on  Isa.  1-18. 


All  at  It,  a?id  always  at  it.  255 

But  that  memorable  conference,  fnU  of  mterest  and 
miportance,  came  to  a  close. 

The  appointments  were  read  out,  and  these  devoted 
itmerants,  endowed  with  power  from  on  high  while 
they  tarried  at  tlieir  Jerusalem,  separated  to  engage 
m  their  soul  saving  work. 

From  Oswego  Conference,  I  was  appointed  to  the 
far  famed  Chateaugay  circuit.  Brother  Leet  and 
myself  left  the  city  immediately  at  the  close  of  the 
session,  and  pushed  rapidly  homeward. 

This  was  my  second  great  trial  in  leaving  a  people 
who  had  become  very  dear  to  me.  During  mv  two 
years  on  Gouverneur  circuit,  I  had  witnessed  many 
conversions;  seen  God's  power  displaved  amon^ 
samts  and  sinners,  and  I  found  it  hard  lo  take  the 
partmg  hand.  I  had  only  two  days  to  remain  with 
them,  and  must  make  the  most  of  these.  I  visited 
Pike's  school  house,  Sprague's  Corners,  MitcheU's, 
Little  lork.  Fowler,  Brayton's,  Edward's,  Little 
l^ow,  Ox  Bow,  Gouverneur,  and  other  places 

Many  tears  were  shed,  many  prayers  offered,  and 
many  kind  words  uttered.  I  felt  the  force  of  the 
hymn  sung  in  our  farewell  meetings— 

"  Your  company  sweet,  your  union  dear, 
Your  words  delightful  to  my  ear : 
And  when  I  see  that  we  must  part, 
You  draw  Hke  cords  around  my  heart." 

Moving  on  horseback  was  the  next  thing  to  be 
done,  and  if  you  never  moved  in  this  way,  it  would 
surprise  you  to  find  how  much  you  could  carry  on  a 


i 


.''Slf5?Kif««?*lf'«»lsfsas:35l?^ 


256       Eeminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

There  was  a  saddle  covered  with  a  bear  skin,  with 
its  fur  on,  two  pads,  one  in  front  of  the  saddle,  the 
other  behind;  a  pair  of  saddle  bags,  with  large 
capacity  for  storage,  and  a  large  valise.  I  had 
accumulated  quite  a  number  of  books  in  three  years, 
so  I  packed  my  wardrobe,  books,  and  all  my  belong- 
ings, threw  the  saddle  bags  across  the  saddle, 
strapped  the  valise  on  the  back  pad,  my  cloak,  great 
coat,  and  umbrella  in  front,  and  mounting  Charley 
Black,  started  north  for  my  new  field  of  labor. 

In  passing  through  Canton,  I  had  a  strong  desire 
to  turn  aside,  and  see  how  the  work  prospered  at 
Buck's  Bridge,  which  I  left  about  three  months 
before,  but  time  would  not  permit.  I  learned,  how- 
ever, that  it  was  doing  well.  The  converts  were 
active  workers,  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  know- 
ledge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

As  I  passed  through  Malone,  I  learned  that  a  Mr. 
Hitchcock,  whose  wife  had  been  ray  first  Sabbath- 
school  teacher,  lived  about  fifteen  miles  out  of  my 
way.  Her  maiden  name  was  Smith,  and  she  resided 
in  Fort  Covington  till  after  her  marriage. 

She  was  my  teacher  when  I  was  about  seven  years 
of  age.  Little  was  attempted  in  the  Sunday-school 
then ;  only  to  hear  the  verses  we  had  committed  to 
memory,  and  have  a  prayer ;  sometimes  singing,  if 
any  one  could  "  raise ''  the  tune. 

At  the  close  of  the  summer,  the  minister  and  vil- 
lage doctor  came  in,  and  gave  us  advice,  in  "baby 
talk,"  which  is  always  digusting  to  the  young,  gave 
little    yellow    covered    primers,    as  "a  reward  of 


All  at  it^  and  always  at  it. 


257 


merit,"  to  those  they  deemed  worthy  of  them,  and 
adjourned  the  school  for  the  winter,  which  meant 
about  eight  months  of  the  year. 

I  have  often  wondered  since,  that  men  of  sense 
would  distribute  such  literature  to  Sunday-school 
scholars.  The  books  were  "Blue  Beard  and  his 
many  wives,"  "Mother  Hubbard  and  her  wonderful 
dog,"  "Jack  the  Giant  Killer,"  "Mother  Goose," 
and  such  silly  nonsense.  I  remember  that  we  chil- 
dren thought  them  to  be  real  histories ;  borrowed 
and  lent  these  primers  all  through  the  communitv, 
and  admired  their  wonderful  heroes. 

Miss  Smith  was  always  serious  in  her  class,  and 
once  or  twice  ventured  to  advise  us  to  sav  our  prav- 
ers  every  day  and  read  the  bible  on  Sunday.  She 
made  a  good  impression  on  my  young  mind,  and  I 
regarded  her  as  an  angel.  I  think,  still,  that  she 
was  more  religious  than  the  majority.  Her  exam- 
ple and  few  counsels  did  me  good,  and  I  remem- 
ber her  with  gratitude  and  affection. 

As  I  was  within  fifteen  miles  of  her  home,  and 
had  a  few  hours  to  spare,  I  turned  ray  horse  in  that 
direction,  and  after  a  brisk  ride  of  twJ  hours  thought 
I  must  be  in  the  vicinity.  Seeing  a  raan  workinc?in 
an  orchard  by  the  wayside,  I  asked  hira  if  Deat-on 
Hitchcock  lived  in  that  neighborhood.  He  replied, 
"  That  is  ray  name."  I  told  hira  that  Mrs.  H.  had 
been  ray  Sabbath-school  teacher  about  fifteen  years 
ago,  and  learning  that  she  lived  in  that  town,  I  had 
come  fifteen  miles  out  of  ray  way  to  see  her.     He 

gave  rae  a  very  cordial  reception,  "^ said  that  his  wife 

17 


258       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

was  always  glad  to  see  her  friends,  and  he  would 
conduct  me  to  the  house  at  once. 

He  introduced  me  to  his  wife  as  one  of  her  Sun- 
day-school scholars,  but  she  did  not  recognize  me. 
I  asked  if  she  remembered  her  class  at.  Fort  Coving- 
ton, in  Deacon  Erwin's  Sunday-school.  "Yes.'' 
"Well,"  I  said,  "I  am  the  James  of  the  class." 
"  What !  James  Erwin  ?  "  "  Yes."  Then  we  had  to 
shake  hands  all  round  again. 

She  told  her  husband  all  my  good  qualities,  some 
of  Avhich  I  had  never  heard  of  before,  and  was  con- 
fident I  did  not  possess.  We  had  an  excellent  visit, 
pleasant  and  profitable  to  me,  and  fully  reciprocated 
by  the  family. 

It  was  very  gratifying  to  Mrs.  H.  that  one  of  her 
pupils  had  entered  the  ministry,  even  though  it  was 
in  another  church. 

I  found  her  the  happy  mother  of  two  promising 
sons,  one  eight  and  the  other  ten  years  of  age.  My 
intention  was  to  leave  immediately  after  dinner,  but 
it  was  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  before  I  could 
tear  myself  away. 

Mrs.  Hitchcock  said  she  had  a  favor  to  ask  of  me 
before  I  left.  She  wished  me  to  pray  with  them, 
and  especially  for  her  boys,  that  they  might  be 
brought  early  into  the  fold.     So  I  read  from  that— 

*'  Richest  of  books,  which  excelleth  all  others, 
The  family  Bible  that  lay  on  the  stand," 

and  told  her  two  sons  how  their  mother  had  coun- 
seled and  helped  me  to  be  good,  when  I  was  a  little 


All  at  it,  and  always  at  it.  259 

boy,  as  she  was  now  helping  them.  They  were 
blessed  with  a  Christian  home,  with  family  prayers 
and  if  they  would  listen  to  the  counsel  of  their 
parents,  and  give  their  young  hearts  to  God  thev 
would  grow  up  to  be  good  and  useful  men; 'or,  [f 
God  had  need  of  them  in  heaven,  they  would  'be 
happy  in  that  blessed  home. 

Before  bowing  in  prayer,  she  begged  me  to  allow 
her  to  place  the  chairs  of  the  children  so  I  could 
place  my  hands  on  their  heads  as  we  knelt,  and  our 
covenant  keeping  God  melted  and  blessed  us,  and 
strengthened  the  faith  of  these  believing  parents 
that  in  training  up  these  children  in  the  wav  they 
should  go,  when  they  became  old  they  would  not 
depart  from  it. 

Deacon  Hitchcock  accompanied  me  two  or  three 
miles  on  my  return,  and  our  hearts  burned  within 
us,  as  Jesus  talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  opened 
to  us  the  Scriptures. 

I  reached  my  circuit  about  noon  on  Saturday,  and 
put  up  with  Ezra  Stiles,  the  class  leader  in  West 
Chateaugay  (now  Burke).     Brother  S.  was  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  Franklin  county,  filled  several 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibihty,  and  was  a  devoted 
and  useful  Christian.     He  and  his  excellent  family 
exerted  a  wide  influence  for  Christ,  and  were  instru- 
mental in  building  up  Methodism  in  that  region. 
He  moved,  several  years  later,  to  Fort  Covington, 
and  was  in  Government  employ  the  last  I  knew 
of  him. 

Chateaugay  circuit  was  one  of   the  wildest  and 


260       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circmt  Ufe. 

most  undesirable  sections  of  the  conference.  It  was 
infested  with  wolves,  panthers,  and  bears,  and 
needed  pluck  and  fortitude  to  travel  it.  The  town 
of  Chateaugay  was  largely  cleared  and  cultivated, 
and  was  inhabited  by  an  intelHgent  and  enterprising 

class  of  people. 

Ellis's  Scenery,  in  Lower  Canada,  was  also  cleared 
up,  but  the  other  townships  were  new,  and  the  set- 
tlements widely  scattered.     It   was  noted  for  the 
great   wilderness   that  stretched  along    its  eastern 
boundary,  infested  with  ferocious  beasts,  so  that  for 
yeai-s  it  was  not  considered  safe  to  travel  through  it, 
unless   in  sufficient  numbers  to  defend  themselves 
against   an   attack  from  these   animals,   especially 
against  the  hungry  wolves,  so  abundant. 
'^I   little    thought,   when    my   boyish    fears  were 
excited   by   the  tales   that   were   told  of   thrilling 
adventures  and  narrow  escapes,  that  at  no  distant 
period  I  would  be  entering  the  sparse  settlements 
along  its  borders  in  quest  of  souls. 

This  circuit  was  over  four  hundred  miles  in  cir- 
cumference. Part  of  it  lay  in  the  counties  of 
Franklin  and  Clinton  ;  but  the  greater  part  extemled 
into  Lower  Canada— a  cold,  rugged,  uninviting 
country,  with  some  good  people,  but  chiefly  inhab- 
ited by  an  ignorant,  immoral,  and  reckless  popula- 
tion. The  climate  was  severe.  The  rigor  of  a 
Canadian  winter  is  very  trying. 

Rev.  Silas  Comfort  was  Presiding  Elder,  and 
employed  Harris  Kingsly  and  John  E.  Stoddard  as 
my  colleagues. 


All  at  it^  and  always  at  it.  201 

I  was  greatly  mortified  by  being  preacher  in 
charge,  and  having  two  men  so  much  older  and 
more  experienced  than  myself  as  associates.  But 
there  was  no  help  for  it,  and  I  was  obliged  to  do 
the  best  I  could. 

My  colleagues  saw  that  it  embarrassed  me,  and 
playfully  introduced  me,  on  every  occasion,  as 
"  preacher  in  charge,"  but  I  soon  got  accustomed  to 
the  dignity,  and  bore  the  honor  with  Christian  resig- 
nation, and  did  my  best  to  arrange  and  carry  on  the 
work. 

Our  predecessors  were  Charles  L.  Dunning  and 
Benjamin  F.  Brown,  two  of  the  loudest  Boanerges 
of  the  conference.  They  had  a  successful  vear,  and 
reported  fixe  hundred  conversions.  Thev  labored 
hard  and  faithfully,  but  lost  much  of  the  fruit  of 
their  efforts  by  neglecting  to  receive  the  great  body 
of  the  converts  as  probationers  into  the  church. 

Less  than  one  hundred  were  enrolled  on  the  class 
books  at  the  several  appointments  on  the  circuit,  and 
over  four  hundred  were  left  outside,  without  church 
obligations  or  restraints. 

These  earnest  men  were  so  intent  on  soul  saving, 
that  they  overlooked  the  importance  of  that  svstera 
and  watch-care  necessary  to  make  these  converts 
Ining,  working  Christians.  This  was  a  fault  too 
common  in  that  day. 

These  beloved  brethren  were  very  popular  with 
the  people.  They  lived  in  a  revival  flame  through 
the  year,  and  pushed  on  the  work  till  the  day  they 
started   for  conference.     They   were   hard   men  to 


202       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

follow,  but  we  had  no  time  to  shiver  over  difficulties. 
It  was  our  business  to  work  and  pray,  and  hope  for 

the  best. 

We  three  preachers  met  at  West  Chateaugay,  to 
arrange  our  plans,  and  organize  the  w^ork.  It  had 
been  a  four  weeks  circuit  heretofore,  with  two 
preachers.  Now  we  were  to  enlarge  its  borders,  by 
taking  in  new  territory,  and  make  it  a  six  weeks 
circuit,  with  three  preachers. 

Brother  Stoddard  had  lived  within  its  bounds  for 
several  years ;  w^as  familiar  with  the  territory,  and 
knew  what  points  to  take  in,  and  how  the  work 
should  be  arranged.  A  plan  was  made  out  for  each, 
giving  every  appointment,  preaching  once  in  two 
weeks,  and  each  preacher  making  his  rounds  once  in 

six  weeks. 

We  were  strangers  to  each  other,  ha^^ng  never 
met  before;  but  the  fact  that  we  were  Methodist 
preachers  made  us  brothers,  and  gave  us  mutual 
confidence.  We  told  our  experience,  and  prayed 
together.  Asked  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church, 
who  had  said  to  his  ministers,  "  Lo !  I  am  with  you," 
to-o-o  with  us  on  our  rounds,  and  give  us  souls  for 
our  hire,  and  wrap  the  circuit  in  a  blaze  of  revival. 

We  started  to  our  work  thankful  for  the  privilege 
of  preaching  Christ  to  lost  men,  and  happy  in  our 
associations.  It  seemed  to  me  that  with  two  such 
earnest  men,  and  Christ  to  lead  us,  Ave  might  take 
that  region  for  the  Master. 

Harris  Kingsley  was  a  local  preacher  of  some 
years  standing.     He  came  fi-om  Vermont,  and  was 


All  at  it,  and  always  at  it,  263 

employed  as  one  of  the  preachers  on  the  circuit. 
He  was  about  thirty  yeai»s  of  age;  had  a  wife  and 
one  child ;  was  a  fair  preacher  and  a  diligent  pastor, 
studious  and  active  in  his  habits.     He  was  useful 
on   the  charge,   and   enjoyed   the   confidence   and 
esteem  of  the  people.     At  the  close  of  the  year,  he 
was  recommended  by  the  quarterly  conference  to 
the  Black  River  annual  conference,  and  was  received 
on  probation  at  its  first  session,  held  in  Watertown, 
X.  Y.,  September  1,  1836.    After  laboring  success- 
fuUy  in  the  conference  for  twenty-two  vears,  liis 
health  became  impaired,  and  he  asked  and  received 
a  superannuated  relation.     Hoping  to  improve  his 
health,   and  provide  for  his  family,  he  moved  to 
Iowa,  and  settled  at  Inde})endence,^  where  he  spent 
the  seventeen  remaining  years  of  his  life,  respected 
by  the  people,  and  useful  in  the  cause,  doing  aU  that 
health  and  circumstances  would  allow  to  promote  it. 
He  ended  his  consecrated  life  in  his  seventieth  year, 
and  the  forty  fifth  year  of  his  ministry. 

John  E.  Stoddard  was  the  third  preacher  on  the 
circuit.  He  was  a  good  preacher,  a  man  of  deep  and 
uniform  piety,  and  had  a  wife  who  was  a  help- 
meet in  the  w^ork. 

Brother  Stoddard  was  at  this  time  thirty-four 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  large,  coarse  built  man, 
with  light  hair,  projecting  eyebrows,  round,  stooping 
shoulders,  and  a  logy  gait.  His  countenance  was 
pale,  and  his  voice  often  husky  and  weak,  owing  to 
physical  debihty  and  weakness  of  the  lungs.  But 
his  deep  piety,  the  sweetness  of  his  spirit,  and  the 


204       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

evangelical  character  of  his  preaching,  won  the 
hearts  of  the  people,  and  rendered  him  acceptable 
on  the  charge.  He  traveled  seven  years  in  connec- 
tion with  the  conference,  and  in  1843  was  compelled, 
in  consequence  of  poor  health,  to  take  a  super- 
annuated relation.  He  lingered  in  great  weakness 
of  body  for  about  eighteen  years,  then,  rich  in  faith, 
and  ripe  for  heaven,  God  took  him  to  his  many  man- 
sioned  home. 

We  labored  harmoniously  together,  and  God 
crowned  our  efforts  with  success.  We  held  several 
three  and  four  days  meetings,  at  different  points,  and 
witnessed  gracious  revivals.  Generally,  two  of  us 
could  be  at  the  meeting,  except  on  the  Sabbath, 
when  one  would  conduct  the  revival  meeting,  preach- 
ing three  times,  and  the  other  would  go  to  his 
appointments. 


Overcoming  Difficulties, 


265 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


OVERCOMING  DIFFICULTIES. 

)T  was  the  custom  for  the  preacher  in  charge  to 
hold  a  general  class-meeting  at  every  appoint- 
ment on  his  last  round  before  the  quarterly  meet- 
ing, when  we  inquired  carefully  into  the  spiritual 
condition  of  every  member  of  the  class,  called  the 
names  of  the  members  from  the  class-book,  and  each 
one  as  his  or  her  name  was  announced,  gave  a  brief 
statement  of  their  religious   experience,  and  then 
such  questions  as  the  following  were  proposed :  Are 
you  growing  in  grace  ?    How  often  do  you  pray  in 
your  closets  each  day  ?     Do  you  read  some  portion 
of  Scripture  daily?    Do  you  observe  carefully  the 
quarterly    fasts?     Do    you    faithfully   reprove    sin 
when  it  is  committed  in  your  presence  ?    Have  you 
anything  against  any  member  of  this  class  ?    After 
as  many  searching  questions  as  the  case  seemed  to 
demand,  this  question   was  put  to  the  class:     Is 
there  anything  against  this  member?     The  leader 
was  expected  to  give  an  audible  answer,  yes  or  no, 
and  if  any  member  of  the  class   knew  anything 
against  the  member  he  was  to  state  it,  or  else  here- 
after hold  his  peace. 
If  anything  was  alleged  (as  was  sometimes  the 


266       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

case),  such  as  immorality,  or  unchristian  conduct, 
neglecting  duties,  wrong  temper,  etc.,  unless  they 
were  ready  to  confess  their  faults  and  promise 
amendment,  they  were,  by  a  vote  of  the  society,  cut 

off. 

At  these  general  class-meeting  the  quarterly  tick- 
ets were  renewed,  and  notes  given  to  serious  persons 
who  were  anxious  to  attend  the  love-feast — for  no 
person  was  permitted  to  attend  a  class-meeting  or 
love-feast  more  than  three  times  till  they  joined  the 
society.  Every  member  was  expected  to  attend 
class  weekly,  unless  providentially  prevented,  and  of 
this  the  class  were  to  judge. 

Class  meeting  was  a  condition  of  membership,  and 
in  a  class  of  thirty,  the  attendance  would  average 
about  twenty-five.  Each  leader  marked  his  class- 
book,  weekly,  thus — P.,  for  present ;  A.,  for  absent ; 
D.,  for  distance ;  S.,  for  sick,  and  the  preacher  who 
met  the  general  class  with  book  in  hand  could  see  at 
a  srlance  what  the  attendance  of  each  was,  and  if 
there  were  several  A.'s  opposite  a  name,  a  reason 
was  called  for,  and  unless  there  was  penitence,  and 
a  promise  of  amendment,  by  vote  of  the  class  the 
person  was  excluded.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  leader 
to  see  each  member  of  his  class  every  week ;  if  not  in 
the  class-room,  he  must  visit  him  at  his  home  or  else- 
where. If  he  failed  in  this,  another  leader  was  put 
in  his  place.  If  the  class  was  too  large  for  a  leader 
to  take  care  of,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  preacher  to 
divide  it  or  transfer  some  of  its  members  to  other 
classes. 


Over  com  ing  Dllficulties. 


267 


For  several  years  after  I  entered  the  itinerancy,  I 
never  heard  a  leader  argue  that  it  was  not  his  duty 
to  visit  the  absent  members  of  his  class.  It  was  the 
requirement  of  the  Discipline  and  the  clear  under- 
standing of  the  church.  The  preacher  was  careful 
10  insist  upon  it,  and  every  member  expected  it.  It 
was  a  great  misfortune  to  the  church  when  this 
point  was  yielded,  as  laxity  soon  followed,  and  the 
attendance  was  greatly  diminished. 

In  holding  the  general  class  meetings,  before  our 
first  quarterly  meeting,  it  was  arranged  so  that  the 
three  preachers  could  be  together  at  three  of  these 
meetings,  and  it  was  a  privilege  greatly  appreciated. 
Our  meetings  were  in  Belmont  and  East  Ellen  burg. 
At  the  first,  we  had  two  exhortations  after  the  ser- 
mon, and  "  the  shout  of  a  king  among  us ; "  had  a 
great  refreshing  in  general  class,  and  a  church  trial 
the  next  morning,  which  terminated  happily,  as  the 
accused  brother  penitently  confessed  his  faults,  and 
asked  forgiveness. 

On  our  way  to  the  second  meeting,  we  had  a 
dense  piece  of  woods,  some  five  or  six  miles,  to  go 
through.  The  road  was  obscure,  a  mere  bridle  jjath, 
over  which  we  had  to  travel  single  file.  It  was  late 
in  October,  and  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  light 
snow.  A  most  beautiful  phenomenon  occurred,  the 
like  of  which  I  have  never  seen  since. 

Being  a  little  late,  we  were  urging  our  horses 
along  the  path,  in  the  twilight,  when  we  discovered 
a  singular  appearance  in  the  light,  as  it  glimmered 
through  the  trees.     We  could  not  account  for  it,  till 


208       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

emercrina"  from  the  forest  we  saw  the  snow,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  extend,  red  like  blood.  On  looking 
up  to  the  heavens  a  scene  of  beauty  met  our  gaze. 
The  Aurora  Borealis  was  out  in  its  grandeur.  The 
heavens  were  canopied  with  blood  red  clouds.  The 
streamers  would  move  gracefully  along  the  sky,  and 
then  again  hang  like  an  arch  across  the  heavens 
from  East  to  AVest. 

It  reminded  us  of  the  graphic  language  of  the 
prophet  Joel,  ''And  I  will  show  wonders  in  the 
heavens,  and  in  the  earth,  blood  and  fire,  and  pillars 
of  smoke;"  and  of  the  oriental  description  of  St. 
John,  *'fire  mingled  with  blood." 

We  found  a  large  congregation  assembled  in  the 
log  school-house.  The  text  that  evening  was,  "  God 
hath  visited  His  people^^  and  as  the  speaker  dwelt 
upon  Christ's  first  advent  as  a  Saviour,  and  His  sec- 
ond coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  flaming 
fire  attended  by  His  angels,  a  solemn  awe  rested  on 
the  people,  who  seemed  deeply  impressed.  We 
invited  the  penitents  to.  remain  with  us  in  class,  and 
several  stayed.  Men  and  women  who  had  "sat  in 
the  seat  of  the  scorner,"  now  bowed  with  us  in 
prayer.  I  have  noticed  that  in  times  of  danger, 
when  men's  fears  are  aroused,  they  want  good  peo- 
ple around  them. 

In  a  new  settlement  one  afternoon,  during  a  total 
eclipse  of  the  sun,  a  number  of  scoffers  came  to  a 
pious  family  whom  they  had  persecuted,  saying,  "  if 
the  world  is  coming  to  an  end,  we  would  like  to  be 
among  people  who  pray,"  and  they  joined  in  the 


Overcoming  Dijficulties.  269 

prayei^  that  were  offered  for  them.  But  alas !  when 
the  eclipse  was  over  and  the  darkness  passed,  thev 
went  out  to  scoff  again.  But  some  of  these  persons 
who  remained  in  class  with  us  as  seekers  of  religion 
were  converted,  and  became  workers  in  the  vinevard. 
The  next  day  we  went  up  into  the  south  woJds  to 
an  appointment  where  we  had  a  large  class.  Broth- 
ers Kingsly  and  Stoddard  stopped  at  the  "  preacher's 
lodgings,"  that  is,  the  family  mentioned  on  the 
"plaii"'  as  his  regular  place  for  stopping;  while  I 
went  by  special  invitation  to  be  the  guest  of  the  old 
man  at  whose  house  the  meetings  were  held. 

The  old  gentleman  and  ladv  and  a  married 
daughter  who  lived  with  them,  gave  me  a  very  cor- 
dial welcome,  though  they  rather  overdid  the 
matter,  awakening  a  suspicion  in  my  mind  that  thev 
"  had  an  axe  to  grind." 

In  the  afternoon  the  old  man  came  into  the  room 
where  I  was  sitting  alone,  and  said  he  would  like  to 
talk  with  me.  As  I  was  a  stranger  he  would  like  to 
inform  me  as  to  the  state  of  things  in  societv 
There  were  several  bad  people  in  the  societv  who 
were  given  to  "  back-biting "  and  "  evil  speakino/' 
and  as  we  were  to  have  a  general  class-meeting,  lie 
wished  to  put  me  on  my  guard. 

Then  he  began  to  flatter  me,  saying,  that  the 
moment  he  put  his  eye  on  me  he  saw  that  I  knew 
what  I  was  doing ;  I  had  an  eye  that  could  look 
through  a  person  and  detect  concealed  guilt,  and  he 
believed  that  I  would  purge  the  societv  from  evil  at 
^nx  cost;  that   I  was  different   from   these  other 


S' 


270      Bemiiiiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

preachers,  who  were  good  meaning  men,  but  easy 
and  short  sighted.  He  was  very  glad  that  God  had 
sent  me  on  that  circuit  as  preacher  in  charge,  for  he 
thouo-ht  we  would  now^  have  a  thorough  cleaning  up 
in  the  church.  That  himself,  wife  and  daughter, 
who  were  living  Christians  and  had  been  burdened 
by  the  short-comings  and  sins  of  others,  would  stand 
bv  me ;  and  to  show  their  appreciation  of  me  they 
had  killed  chickens,  and  would  have  them  for  break- 
fast to-morrow  morning,  and  if  I  wished  it,  they 
would  ask  the  other  preachers  to  breakfast  w^ith  me. 
"  AVell,"  I  thought,  "  this  is  the  most  brazen-faced 
hvpocrite  that  I  have  ever  met,  trying  to  buy  me  up 
with  flattery  and  chickens,  and  if  God  will  help  me 
I  will  pull  the  sheep-skin  off  this  wolf,"  but  as  all 
were  strangers .  I  must   wait  the  development  of 

things. 

I  told  the  old  man  I  meant  to  do  my  duty ;  would 
not  cover  up  sin  in  the  church,  but  do  my  best  to  get 
rid  of  it  no  matter  where  it  was  found ;  that  I  was 
very  fond  of  chickens,  and  would  like  to  have  him 
invite  the  other  preachers  in  to  breakfast  so  that  we 
could  talk  over  our  plans  before  we  separated. 

After  preaching  and  a  rousing  exhortation  by  one 
of  the  brethren,  we  dismissed  the  audience,  and 
called  for  a  general  class-meeting.  The  class  leader 
handed  me  the  class-book,  and  beginning  with  the 
leader,  I  went  through  the  list.  When  I  came  to 
my  host  I  put  the  most  searching  questions  I  could 
to  him,  but  could  discover  nothing  wrong.  When  I 
asked,  -  Is  there  anything  against  this  brother  ?"  the 


Overcoraing  Difficulties,  271 

leader  answered  promptly,  "Xo."  It  was  the  same 
with  his  wife.  The  daughter's  name  was  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  Hst,  but  she  answered  every  question 
with  confident  assurance.  And  to  the  question,  "  Is 
there  anything  against  this  sister?"  there  wks  a 
tardy  answer,  no.  I  was  nonplussed,  but  kept  asking 
God  m  my  heart  to  reveal  the  hidden  wickedness  if 
any  existed. 

I  was  led  to  ask  the  leader,  why  he  hesitated  to 
answer  m  this  case  more  than  in  the  others,  remark- 
ing that  the  purity  of  the  church  depended  upon  our 
fideUty  to  the  cause.  If  there  was  any  whispering 
of  sin  about  a  member,  it  should  be  mentioned,  so 
that  It  could  be  adjusted  on  the  spot,  and  the  person 
relieved  if  not  guilty. 

The  leader  replied  that  it  had  been  stated  to  him 
by  one  familiar  with  the  family,  that  she  feared 
gross  sin  in  the  case  of  this  member,  but  as  he  had 
no  clear  proof,  he  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  men- 
tion it. 

I  followed  up  the  case,  till  the  daughter,  fearing 
that  it  would  reach  her  husband^s  ears,  who  was  not 
a  member,  said  she  would  give  us  the  facts  if  we 
would  not  tell  her  husband.  I  replied,  that  I  pr^ 
sumed  that  no  one  present  w^ould  take  it  to  him ;  it 
was  simply  our  business  to  purify  the  church,  and 
we  dare  not  wink  at  sin,  and  the  best  thing  she 
could  do,  before  a  heart-searching  God,  was  to  con- 
fess, and  forsake  her  wrong. 

In  confessing  her  infidelity  to  her  husband,  she 
implicated  both  her  parents  as  conniving  at  her  sin 


■'**^'*"*^*'^^-^ 


msk 


272       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

for  gain.  As  this  was  a  crime  ''  that  would  exclude 
a  person  from  the  kingdom  of  grace  and  glory," 
and  the  proof  was  clear,  they  were  all  three  expelled 
fi-om  the  church,  by  a  vote  of  the  society. 

It  was  late  when  the  meeting  closed,  and  as  soon 
as  the  members  left,  I  proposed  family  prayers,  and 
retired.     The   next    morning   the   other   preachers 
came  to  breakfast,  and  the  chickens  were  served. 
We  dominies  were  sociable,  but  the  family  were 
glum,  and  before  the  meal  was  ended  the  old  man 
said  to  me,  "If  we  had  known  you  would  have 
expelled  us  from  the  church,  we  would  not  have 
killed  these  chickens."     I  remarked  that  he  might 
have  known  it,  for  he  had  said  that  the  moment  he 
put  his  eyes  on  me,  he  saw  that  I  could  look  right 
through  a  person,  and  I  could  see  then  that  he  was 
coverhig  up  his  own  guilt  and  that  of  his  family, 
in  trying  to  put  me  on  the  wrong  track,  by  accusing 
the  other  members,  and  assuring  me  of  the  purity 
of  himself,  wife,  and  daughter. 

I  said  to  him,  "  My  dear  sir,  you  and  your  famUy 
have  been  plaving  the  hypocrite,  and  unless  you 
repent  and  are  pardoned,  you'll  be  damned."  We 
gave  them  a  wann  exhortation  to  repent  and  forsake 
sin,  and  fly  to  Christ,  and  at  family  worship  prayed 
most  fervently  that  they  might  be  saved.  I  scarcely 
ever  met  my  colleagues  in  after  years  but  what  they 
asked  if  I  remembered  the  "  EUenburg  chickens,  up 

in  the  woods." 

Our  first  four-days  meeting  on  Chateaugay  circuit, 
was  held  at  North  Chateaugay,  in  December,  1S36. 


Overcorning  Difficulties.  273 

The  three  preachers  were  present  until  Saturday 
afternoon,  when  my  colleagues  left  for  their  Sabbath 
appointments,  while  I  remained  to  conduct  the 
meeting. 

We  had  a  good  society  at  this  point ;  families  of 
wealth  and  position,  quite  above  the  common  grade 
of  intelligence.  They  were  men  and  women  of  deep 
and  uniform  piety,  having  the  respect  and  coniidence 
of  their  neighbors,  and  were  influential  throughout 
the  community.  They  came  together  "with  one 
accord,  in  one  place,"  and  were  of  one  heart  and 
mind,  united  in  the  work. 

Our  fast  day  was  a  time  never  to  be  forgotten,  for 
personal  consecration  to  the  work,  and  the  mighty 
spirit  of  united  prayer  for  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  church,  and  for  the  salvation  of 
sinners ;  and  God  gave  us  a  token  for  good  in  bap- 
tisms  of  fire.  There  was  but  little  noisy  demonstra- 
tion, but  much  of — 

"  The  speechless  awe  that  dare  not  move, 
And  all  the  silent  heaven  of  love." 

While  the  united  church  was  pleading  for  .the 
"manifestation  of  the  Spirit,"  in  the  sanctification 
of  believers,  in  the  preparation  of  the  field  for  the 
sowing  of  the  seed,  and  an  abundant  harvest,  God 
answered  the  prayers  of  his  trusting  jpeople  by  pen- 
tecostal  showers,  and  several  were  prostrated,  as 
was  the  prophet  Daniel,  beside  the  great  river  Hid- 
dekel,  when  the  vision  of  God  opened  to  his  soul 

18 


274      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

llow  gloriously  will  God  reveal  himself   to  his 
people,  when  they  stand  on  promised  ground,  and 
plead  with  Him,  face  to  face,  that  His  peerless  Son 
may  "  see  the  travail  of  his  soul  in  the  salvation  of 
deathless  sinners."     From  that  afternoon,  we  had 
no  doubt  of  the  success  of  the  meeting.     God  had 
written  the  promise  on  more  than  fifty  hearts,  with 
His  own  immortal  finger,  just  as  distinctly  as  He 
inscribed    the    law    on   the   stony   tables,   on  the 
^^  mount  that  burned  with  fire,"  and  all  we  had  to 
do  was  to  put  ourselves  in  God's  hands,  use  the 
means  that  he  had  appointed,  and  leave  the  results 
with  Him.     The  first  day  of  the  meeting  we  had 
seekers  at  the  "  mourners'  bench." 

The  church  here  was  a  faithful  band  of  earnest 
workers-''  all  at  it,  and  always  at  it."  They  were 
at  home  in  prayer;  it  was  their  "  vital  breath,  their 
native  air."  When  Jacob  and  Amaziah  Smith, 
Alma  J.  Wright,  Jane  Smith,  and  thirty  or  forty 
others,  took  hold  of  the  strong  arm  of  God,  with  a 
grasp  of  faith,  they  moved  the  hand  that  supports 

the  universe. 

Our  love  feast,  Sunday  morning,  was  a  labor 
scene.  As  the  triumphant  song  of  Moses  and  the 
children  of  Israel  rang  out  along  the  shore,  and 
over  the  waters  of  the  Red  Sea,  so  our  peons  of 
praises  rose  from  jubilant  hearts  to  heaven—"  Who 
is  like  unto  Thee,  O  Lord,  among  the  Gods  I  Who 
is  like.  Thee,  glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in  praises, 
doing  wonders  ? " 


Overcoming  Difficulties.  275 

Several  heads  of  families,  and  a  goodly  number  of 
young  people,  who  had  been  converted  during  the 
three  days  of  the  meeting,  were  among  us  ready'' to— 

**  Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  Him  Lord  of  all." 

The  old  stone  school  house  rang  that  morning 
with  songs  and  shouts  of  praise  and  joy.  The 
meeting  continued  during  the  week,  with  blessed 
results.  The  church  was  built  up  and  strengthened, 
brands  plucked  from  the  burning,  and  the  preacher^ 
greatly  encouraged. 

Our  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  soon  after 
this.     The  school  house,  though  large,  would  not 
accommodate  more  than  a  (juarter  who  wished  to 
attend.     Xo  private  house  was  large  enough,  and 
as   "necessity    is   the    mother    of    invention,"   the 
brethren   fitted   up   Uncle   Amaziah   Smith's  large 
barn  for  the  occasion.     The  threshing  floor  and  the 
stables  were  arranged  with  seats;  the  haymow  in 
the  bay  was  lowered  by  removing  part  of  the  hay, 
and  seats   prepared   on   that.     A  large  number  of 
young  men  and  boys  were  accommodated  on  the 
hay  loft,  over  the  stables.    A  stove  was  placed  in 
the  large  stable,  for  the   benefit  of  those  coming 
from  a  distance  in  the  cold.     Straw  was  liberallp 
scattered  on  the  floor,  the  larger  cracks  were  ba^ 
tened,  and  the  holes  chinked  with  straw  or  paper. 
The  cattle  and  horses  were  all  removed  to  another 
barn.     A  "  bee "  had  been  made  the  day  before  the 
meeting  began,  to  put  the  place  in  orde/;  and  it  was 


i 


270      Beminiacences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

surprising  to  see  what  twenty  or  tliirty  men  could 
do  in  a  few  hours,  to  convert  a  barn  into  a  con- 
venient church,  in  an  emergency. 

The  meeting  began  on  Saturday,  at  10 :  30  a.  m. 
The  sleighs  began  to  file  in  from  the  nortli-  e»^t, 
south,  and  west,  packed  with  warm-hearted  Metho- 
dists, and  as  many  of  their  unconverted  neighbors 
aB  they  could  bring  with  them.  The  mercury  was 
below  zero,  but  what  of  that,  they  journeyed  to  a 
better  country,"  a  sunny  clime.  They  felt  with  the 
poet  that — 

"  If  our  hearts  be  warm, 
Frost  and  snow  can  do  no  harm." 

The  threshing  floor  and  stables  were  well  filled  at 
the  appointed  hour,  many  having  come  a  distance  ot 
forty  and  fifty  miles,  starting  the  day  before^ 

Brother  Sila^  Comfort  was  the  Presiding  Elder,  a 
precise,  scholarly  man,  with  his  heart  in  the  work. 
He  was  very  much  unlike  our  former  P.  K.,  ±tev.  fe. 
Chase,  who  was  popular  with  the  people,  but  m  one 
thing  they  resembled  each  other,  they  were  both 

earnest  for  souls. 

Brother  C.  had  a  logical  mind,  and  though  not  a 
natural  exhorter,  yet  I  have  heard  him  under  the 
Divine  unction,  when  he  moved  an  audience  with 
wonderful  effect.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  our  cir- 
cuit, having  been  appointed  to  the  district  from  the 

last  conference. 

As  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  people,  some  of  us 
feared  that  he  would  not  meet  their  expectations, 


Overcoming  Difficulties,  277 

and  as  he  might  not  be  accustomed  to  such  accom- 
modations as  were  here  furnished,  they  might 
embarrass  him.  But  he  rose  above  his  surroundings, 
and  proved  himself  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to 
be  ashamed.  His  preaching  was  in  '^  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit,  and  with  power."  A  preacher  who 
accompanied  him  gave  a  rousing  exhortation,  and 
although  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  barn  were 
not  the  best,  it  rang  with  the  hallelujahs  of  the  God 
blessed  people. 

The  sleigh  loads  from  abroad,  and  there  were 
many,  were  stationed  among  the  brethren  in  the 
vicinity.  It  was  a  common  remark,  in  those  days, 
for  a  man,  when  he  asked  for  his  complement  "^of 
guests,  to  say :  "  I'll  take  as  many  as  I  have  boards 
in  my  floor."  I  counted  before  I  came,  and  I  have 
twenty  or  thirty,  as  the  case  might  be;  send  me 
that  number.  The  floors  were  not  made  of  narrow 
l^lanks  then  as  now,  but  of  boards  from  a  foot  to  a 
foot  and  a  half  wide,  each  one  wide  enough  for  a 
person  to  lie  upon,  and  so  it  became  a  common 
remark,  "  I  have  —  boards  in  my  floor,  send  me  that 
number  of  persons."  Each  hostess  would  make 
large  ''  field  beds,"  putting  the  men  in  one  room  and 
the  women  in  another.  I  have  frequently  slept  in  a 
row  of  beds  that  would  accommodate  from  ten  to 
twelve  men,  with  another  row  just  as  large  at  the 
opposite  side  of  the  room. 

Our  circuit  was  very  large,  and  the  attendance 
was  great,  as  the  sleighing  was  good,  but  all  were 
accommodated  without  difiiculty.    Sometimes  people 


278       Reminiscences  of  Mrly  Circuit  Life. 

were  sent  three  or  four  miles  for  entertainment,  but 
that  was  not  regarded  as  burdensome,  for  they  went 
in  such  numbers  as  made  it  very  pleasant. 

Prayer  meetings  would  be  appointed  in  the  more 
distant  neighborhoods,  as  well  as  at  the  prmcipal 
one  in  the  center.  This  added  to  the  interest  as 
each  one  reported  in  the  morning  love-feast.  One 
would  tell  of  ''slaving  power,'^  another  of  "souls 
converted,^'  and  another  of  "reclaiming  and  sancti- 
fying grace"  bestowed  on  them. 

The  quarterly  conference  met  in  the  school-house, 
as  also  did  the  central  evening  prayer  meeting. 

At  9  o^clock  in  the  morning  the  love-feast 
began.  It  was  held  in  the  barn,  and  hundreds  were 
together  at  the  hour;  although  it  was  a  stingmg  cold 
morning,  yet  no  complaints  were  made.  Some  of 
the  women  had  their  little  square  foot-stoves  with 
them,  ready  to  ''  loan"  to  those  less  fortunate,  while 
the  large  stove  in  the  stable,  made  many  comforta- 
ble who  came  from  a  distance. 

I  have  often,  in  modern  times,  suffered  more  from 
cold  in  large  fashionable  churches  with  furnaces  and 
carpets,  than  I  did  at  that  quarterly  meeting  held  m 
a  big  barn  in  mid  winter,  seated  on  a  work-bench 
for  a  pulpit,  Ustening  to  a  sermon  for  more  than  an 
hour,  every  sentence  of  which  would  send  the  hot 
blood  rushing  through  the  system.  These  hardy 
pioneers  would  have  starved  on  the  short  well  com- 
posed essays  that  refined  churches  of  to-day  demand. 
No  waiting  at  these  old  time  love-feasts  for  the 
people  to  come.     The  preacher  was  at  the  door  at 


Overcoming  Dijficulties. 


279 


8:30  o'clock  to  receive  the  tickets  and  notes  and  give 
the  crowd  a  Christian  greeting.  The  sweet  singer  of 
Israel  must  have  known  something  of  these  glorious 
times  when  he  wrote,  '- 1  would  rather  be  a  door- 
keeper in  the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the 
tents  of  wickedness."  Might  not  his  prophetic  ken 
have  swept  through  the  vista  of  ages  to  these  grand 
old  days,  when  the  tribes  of  God's  spiritual  Israel 
came  up  from  all  the  borders  of  the  land  to  worship 
God  in  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Whether  this  was 
so  or  not,  of  one  thing  I  am  certain,  that  David's 
God  was  ours ;  and  sitting  in  that  barn  on  this  win- 
ter's morning,  we  could  adopt  his  language  and  say, 
"  How  amiable  are  Thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of  hosts. 
Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  Thy  house ;  they  will 
be  still  praising  Thee.  They  go  from  strength  to 
strength;  every  one  of  them  in  Zion  appeareth 
before  God.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in 
Thee." 

The  circulation  of  the  bread  and  water  as  a  token 
of  Christian  fellowship  in  a  large  audience  is  always 
impressive.  It  teaches  us  to  forgive  the  erring,  to 
cultivate  brotherly  love,  and  keep  the  unity  of  the 
spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace.  O  how  heartilv  they 
sang, 

"  And  if  our  fellowship  below, 
In  Jesus  be  so  sweet, 
What  height  of  rapture  shall  we  know, 
When  round  His  Throne  we  meet." 

When  the  bread  and  water  are  passed  the  doors 
are  closed  for  the  last  time,  having  been  opened 


I 


fi 


2S()       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

after  the  prayer  to  let  those  in  who  were  unavoida- 
bly late. 

Then  the  testimonies  begin,  and  for  one  hour,  one 
after  another  will  "  talk  of  His  kingdom  and  tell  of 
His  |K)wer,"  interspersed  with  singing,  the  interest 
rising  and  culminating  in  bursts  of  praise.  There 
are  few  services  in  the  church  more  stirring  and 
heart  warming  than  a  love-feast.  It  is  a  high  day  in 
Zion,  and  of  many  it  can  be  said,  "  This  man  was 

born  there.- ' 

God  spake  to  the  people  in  the  Elder's  sermon  and 
gave  us  showers  of  blessings  at  the  sacrament. 
Manv  returned  home  in  the  afternoon  "  glorifying 
and  praising  God  for  all  the  things  they  had  heard 
and  seen."  Others  remained  for  the  evening  meet- 
ing when  souls  were  converted,  and  we  had  the 
'^  shout  of  a  king  in  the  camp." 


Trials  and  Triumphs. 


281 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 


TRIALS    AND   TRIUMPHS. 


§00X  after  this  meeting,  we  commenced  special 
services  at  Ellis'  Scenery,  in  the  Canadian  part 
of  the  circuit.     This  was  by  far  the  roughest 
section  of  countrv  in  which  I  had  labored. 

Ellenburgh,  Belmont,  and  the  territory  around 
there  was  new.  Men  were  clearing  up  their  fanns, 
felhng  the  trees,  burning  log  heaps,  and  subduing 
the  soil. 

The  houses  and  barns  were  made  of  logs,  with 
here  and  there  a  frame  house  enclosed,  but  seldom 
finished.  We  often  slept  in  chambers  and  lofts, 
with  loose  boards  thrown  down  for  a  floor,  so  far 
apart  that  you  could  see  every  part  of  the  house 
below,  as  plainly  as  you  could  the  room  you  occu- 
pied. If  the  family  was  large,  J^ou  would  often  find 
two,  three,  or  four  beds  in  the  chamber,  and  occa- 
sionally a  sheet  hung  between  them  for  a  partition. 
The  loose  boards  on  the  floor  being  warped  by  the 
heat,  would  make  a  great  noise  as  you  walked  across 
them.  You  could  frequently  lie  in  bed  and  count  the 
stars  above  vou,  or  feel  the  snow  or  rain  as  it  came 
down  through  the  cracks  and  openings  in  the  roof. 


282       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

But  it  was  the  best  the  people  had,  and  was  prof- 
fered with  a  cordial  hospitality,  and  no  itinerant 
ever  found  a  better  place  to  study  his  sermon  and 
pray  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  than  in  these  oj^en 
lofts,  and  in  the  wild  woods,  among  the  glens  and 
thickets,  and  projecting  rocks  so  frequent. 

Oh  I  if  these  rural  retreats  could  tell  the  hours  of 
agonizing,  wrestling  prayer  that  they  have  witnessed 
for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  and  the  salvation  of 
sinners,  you  would  never  again  ask  the  cause  of 
those  old  time  sweeping  revivals. 

The  Canada  part  of  our  work  was  more  to  be 
dreaded  than  this  side  of  the  line.  These  border 
towns  had  a  mixed  population ;  many  were  refugees 
from  the  states,  settled  there  to  escape  the  claims  of 
justice  upon  them,  and  although  we  found  several 
excellent  families,  yet  the  great  bulk  of  the  people 
were  a  hard,  reckless  race.  Notwithstanding  this, 
the  most  of  them  believed  in  God,  accepted  the 
Bible  as  His  revealed  w^ill,  and  acknowledged  the 
claims  of  rehgion. 

The  thunder  of  God's  law  moved  them,  and  His 
threatenings  made  them  afraid.  It  is  wonderful 
that  among  such  a  depraved,  godless  class,  who  have 
not  enjoyed  religious  privileges,  and  w^hose  hearts 
are  not  Gospel  hardened,  hke  more  moral  men  who 
have  steeled  their  hearts  by  resisting  the  light,  when 
you  bring  the  truth  to  their  undei^tanding  and  apply 
it  to  their  consciences,  how  deep  and  pungent  their 
convictions  are.  They  feel  themselves  slipping  into 
|)erdition.     "The  sorrows  of  death  compass  them, 


Trials  and  Triumphs. 


283 


and  the  pains  of  hell  get  hold  of  them,''  and  they  will 
cry  for  mercy  like  men  sinking  in  a  pit.  They  will 
come  to  your  home  at  midnight  and  beg  of  you  to 
pray  for  them,  or  more  frequently  send  for  you  in 
haste  to  come  to  their  homes  and  pull  them  from 
the  fire,  and  w^est  them  from  the  destroyer's  grasp. 

Oh  I  I  have  prayed  for  such  aw^akened,  despairing 
men,  till  the  beaded  perspiration  stood  thick  upon 
my  brow,  in  mid  winter,  and  every  muscle  and  nerve 
was  unstrung  in  the  struggle  for  victory.  What 
clear  conversions  after  such  keen  conviction.  Xothinof 
doubtful,  no  "  experiencing  a  faint  hope,"  but  radical, 
positive  regeneration.  It  was  like  a  transition  from 
excruciating  pain  to  restful  ease,  from  dense  dark- 
ness to  clear  sunlight.  It  was  like  a  man  born 
blind  opening  his  eyes  to  the  clear  light,  and  the 
beautiful  objects  it  revealed ;  or  take  Paul's  figure, 
it  was  passing  from  death  unto  life,  and  rising  into 
a  new  creation. 

What  a  glowing  experience,  what  songs  of  praise, 
what  jubilant  Shouts  of  victory. 

Our  meeting  on  the  Scenery  was  like  a  hard  fought 
battle.  We  fought  the  ground  over  inch  by  inch, 
and  pushed  the  battle  to  the  gate,  but  "  Bozrah's 
conqueror  "  prevailed.  The  devil  lost  battery  after 
battery,  and  was  obliged  to  surrender  in  force. 

I  found  one  difficulty  entirely  new  to  me  there ; 
four  or  five  turbulent  men  had  come  from  the  States 
to  avoid  the  penalty  of  the  law  which  they  had 
broken  and  were  livino^  and  rearinof  families  without 
marriage.     Some  of  them,   both  men  and   women, 


=iJ 


284       liintiniscentxs  <yf  Eadij  Circuit  Life, 

were  deeply  convicted  of  sin,  and  came  to  the 
mourners'  bench  ''with  strong  crying  and  tears'' 
for  mercy ;  but  a  stupor  came  upon  the  meeting  and 
]>rayer  was  hindered. 

The    preacher    soon     learned     the    cause,    and 
instructed  these  awakened  ones  in  their  duty.     He 
told  them  plainly  that   they  might  weep   tears  of 
blood,  but  tliey  must  *"*  cease  to  do  evil,"  confess  and 
forsake  their  sins  if  they  would  find  mercy.     But 
they  knelt  among  the  seekers  again  the  next  evening. 
AVe  asked  them  to  remain  behind  the  congregation, 
and  showed  them  that  they  were  living  in  adultery; 
that  they  must  respect  the  laws  of  (lod  and  man, 
and  be  joined  in  lawful  wedlock,  or  God  would  curse 
them  in  this  life,  and  send  their  souls  to  hell  in  eter- 
nity.    One  of  them,  a  strong,  stalwart  man  of  more 
intelligence  than  the  rest,  claimed  they  were  married 
in  the  sight  of  God,  and  that  was  enough  ;  we  told 
him  it  was  mocking  God  for  them  to  come  to  the 
mourners  bench  and  weep  and  pray,  and  go  from 
the  altar  of  God  with  teai^  on  thefr  cheeks  to  the 
adulterers  bed,  in  defiance  of  Jehovah's  law. 

He  became  very  angry,  and  havmg  been  a  desper- 
ate character  some  of  the  brethren  became  f right- 
en'ed  at  his  rage.  I  made  an  engagement  to  meet 
him  at  his  house  the  next  morning  at  9  o'clock  to 
talk  the  matter  over.  Several  advised  me  not  to  go, 
saying  that  he  was  a  reckless,  passionate  man,  and 
as  we  had  roused  his  anger,  my  life  would  be  in 
dansrer.  But  I  saw  no  other  wav  to  save  this  class 
of  sinners.     Brother  Broadv,  an  athletic  Irishman, 


Trials  and  Triamphs, 


285 


who  was  one  of  our  class  leaders,  a  man  of  prudence 
and  i)iety,  volunteered  to  accompany  me.  Our 
interview  lasted  over  live  hours.  It  was  a  stormy, 
trying  scene.  Sometimes  the  man  would  reason 
calmly,  but  would  not  yield  the  ])oint.  Then  he 
would  rouse  to  a  fury,  clench  me  by  the  collar,  and 
drag  me  towards  the  door ;  at  otlier  times  he  would' 
open  the  door  and  order  me  out.  Tlien  he  would 
draw  his  list  to  strike  me,  but  Brother  Broady 
would  good  naturedly  step  between  us,  and  save  me 
from  the  blow. 

I  said  to  the  man,  "  My  dear  sir,  I  have  no  object 
to  stand  your  abuse,  only  to  save  your  precious  soul, 
and  help  this  weeping  woman  who  ought  to  be  your 
lawful  wife,  and  is  pleading  with  you,  by  tears  and 
prayers,  to  have  you  openly  and  legally  ratify  the 
contract  you  have  made  in  secret."  I  pleaded  for 
the  sake 'of  his  five  children,  that  they  might  be 
,  s])ared  the  shame  of  illegitimacy ;  showed  him  that 
the  curse  of  God  was  upon  him,  that  he  did  not 
prosper;  though  a  hard  working  man  he  was  in  the 
depth  of  poverty,  had  not  a  decent  bed  in  the 
house,  only  two  wretched  bunks,  one  broken  chair, 
and  a  few  three-legged  stools  of  his  own  making. 

This  touched  his  pride,  and  roused  his  ire.  He 
swore  I  should  leave  the  house,  or  he  would  knock 
my  brains  out.  But  the  tears  of  the  woman,  our 
firmness  and  kindness,  and  above  all  the  grace  of 
God,  subdued  him.  He  finally  consented  to  be 
married  as  soon  as  he  could  raise  the  monev  to  pav 
the  fee.     I  offered  to  furnish  the  monev  if  he  would 


i  t 


28^)       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

attend  to  it  as  soon  as  it  could  be  arranged.  The 
laws  of  Canada  at  that  time  differed  from  ours  in 
relation  to  marriage.  Ministers  could  not  solemnize 
matrimony  by  virtue  of  their  ordination.  One 
minister  was  licensed  by  the  government  to  marry 
in  a  given  district,  and  no  one  else  could  officiate. 
'  The  law  fixed  the  fee  at  two  dollars  and  a  half.  It 
was  necessary  to  publish  the  banns  of  marriage  at 
three  different  times.  I  went  to  see  the  three  other 
families,  and  they  all  agi-eed  to  be  married  if  they 
could  raise  the  money. 

I  wrote  the  Presbyterian  minister,  who  was  autho- 
rized to  solemnize  matrimony  in  that  district,  gave 
the  names  of  the  parties,  told  him  of  their  poverty 
and  wretched  condition,  asked  him  to  come  just  as 
soon  as  he  could  legally  arrange  it,  and  I  would  see 
him  paid.     I  sent  a  man  twenty  miles  with  the  letter. 

The  clergyman  who  was  a  kind.  Christian  gentle- 
man, wrote  me  a  note  saying  that  he  was  to  preach  at 
two  different  places  on  the  following  Sunday,  and 
would  have  a  third  meeting  at  another  place,  so  as  to 
publish  the  banns  three  times  in  one  day.  That  he 
would  get  there  about  noon  on  Monday,  and  would 
marry  as  many  as  I  chose.  He  was  prompt  in  his 
attendance,  said  the  parties  might  pay  what  they 
could,  but  he  would  not  take  anything  from  me,  for 
I  had  done  a  good  work  in  bringing  the  law  break- 
ers to  order.  I  do  not  know  what  the  others  paid, 
but  my  friend  with  whom  I  began,  raised  the  full 
amount  saving,  with  manly  pride,  '^  My  wife  is  worth 
a  whole  fee."     The  best  of  all  was,  they  all  got 


Trials  and  Triuinphs. 


287 


religion,  made  good  members  of  the  church,  and 
God  gave  them  prosperity.  Within  a  year  they 
repaired  their  houses  and  had  comfortable  homes. 

I  have  fought  a  good  many  battles  in  my  life,  but 
never  a  harder  one  than  this.  I  concluded  that  match- 
making was  neither  pleasant  nor  profitable,  but  had 
the  satisfaction  of  learning  years  afterwards  that 
these  four  families  did  well,  both  spiritually  and 
temporally.  Getting  these  "rocks  of  offence"  out 
of  the  way,  the  re\ival  increased  greatly  and  spread 
for  miles  around. 

A  young  Presbyterian  minister  lived  on  the  upper 
Scenery.  He  was  a  "  new-divinity"  man  and  zealous 
for  the  Lord  .of  Hosts.  Within  a  few  years  the 
Calvinistic  churches  were  agitated  and  disturbed  by 
a  controversy  among  themselves  known  as  the  ''  Old 
and  new  divinity  controversy."  The  Presbyterian 
church  suffered  more  than  any  other.  The  ''new 
measure  men,"  and  the  "  new  divinity  men  "  were 
very  zealous.  They  still  adhered  to  Calvinism,  but 
had  a  different  way  of  presenting  it.  They  taught 
that  a  change  of  purpose  was  a  change  of  heart; 
and  all  the  sinner  had  to  do,  was  to  decide  to  be  a 
Christian,  submit  to  God  by  coming  to  the  "  anxious 
seat "  and  express  a  purpose  to  live  a  Christian  life. 

The  historian  of  that  day  would  find  it  difficult  to 
trace  this  controversy  through  all  its  phases  as  "  the 
doctrine  of  grace"  went  through  its  various  modifi- 
cations, sometimes  better,  sometimes  worse,  confusing 
and  mystifying  the  masses.  The  Methodists  held  on 
the  even  tenor  of  their  ways,  defending  truth  from 


288       Reminiscences  of  Larly  Circuit  Life. 

every  phase  of  error,  and  preaching  the  necessity  of 
a  radical,  spiritual  conversion.    The  new  divinity 
men  were  verv  zealous,  but  their  zeal  was  not  always 
according  to  knowledge.    They  seemed  to  regard 
the  gospel  as  a  system  of  denunciation,  and  hence 
the  man  who  could  in  the  current  phraseology  of  the 
day  "  lash  the  churches  "  most,  was  the  best  minister. 
In  prayer  thev  would  lash  themselves  into  a  state 
of  oreat  excitement  and  agitation,  which  they  called 
''  agony  of  soul,"  but  which  was  really  an  agony  of 
the^body.   I  have  seen  men  in  prayer  writhe  as  in  an 
acrony/with  bodv  and  features  contorted  as  if  the 
person' was  convulsed  with  painful  spasms.     To  me 
it  was  shocking.     The  Methodists  were  often  noisy 
and  earnest,  but  nothing  like  this  acting  would  be 
tolerated  among  them  ;  indeed  they  were  disgusted 
by  such  extravagant  exercises,  and  I  have  always 
thought  that  it  had  an  effect  in  modifying  the  noisy 
demonstrations  among  those  wherever  it  existed. 

The  young  Presbyterian  clergyman  accepted  my 
invitation  to  preach  in  our  meeting,  and  gave  us  a 
chara<?teristic  sermon  ;  extravagant,  imprudent,  erro- 
neous, mixed  with  just  enough  truth  to  make  it  pass. 
He  closed  with  an  air  that  said  "  There,  that  is  the 
way  to  do  it ;  now  I  have  given  you  a  start,  go  on  in 
this  wav  and  vou  will  do  something. 

It  was  a  damper  on  the  meeting  and  took  us  a  day 
to  recover  from  the  chill.  But  God  manifested  His 
power  in  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  much  fruit  was 

ffatherad  to  His  glory. 

I  was  instructed  by  my  Presiding  Elder  m  connec- 


Trials  and  Triumphs. 


289 


tion  with  my  circuit  work,  to  open  a  correspondence 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lord,  President  of  the  Canada 
Conference,  with  a  view  of  transferring  our  part  of 
the  Canada  work  to  their  conference. 

We  found  it  difficult  to  carry  out  all  the  provisions 
of  our  discipline  in  another  Government;  besides 
the  customs  and  taste  of  the  Canadians  were  in 
many  respects  so  different  from  ours,  that  we  found 
it  un])leasant.  It  became  necessarv  to  make  a  tour 
of  inspection  through  that  portion  of  Lower  Canada, 
extending  from  the  State  line  down  to  Odeltown  and 
Lachine,  nine  miles  from  Montreal.  Canada  had 
been  under  our  care  until  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church  of  England  consented  to  take  the  work  off 
our  hands  into  the  colony.  So  our  church,  according 
to  agreement,  withdrew  from  the  Canadas,  but  thev 
had  not  been  able  so  far  to  supply  all  parts  of  the 
work.  There  were  societies  all  throuo:h  that  reo-ion, 
tliat  kept  up  their  organization,  and  sustained  their 
meetings,  hoping  that  English  missionaries  might 
be  sent  to  them,  or,  as  they  preferred,  that  preachers 
might  be  sent  by  us.  Our  conference  felt  that  these 
scattered  sheep  in  the  wilderness  should  not  be  for- 
saken ;  hence  my  appointment  to  arrange  the  matter. 
My  object  in  visiting  the  territory  was  as  far  as 
practicable,  to  ascertain  their  strength,  numbers,  etc., 
that  I  might  give  Mr.  Lord  a  clear  statement  of 
their  condition. 

•  I  engaged  in  the  work  in  the  month  of  January, 
183G,  and  spent  about  two  weeks  in  exploring  it.     I 


2^0       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

think  they  were  the  hardest  weeks  of  my  itinerate 
life  for  over  fifty  years.  The  snow  was  deep,  the 
cold  intense,  the  country  wild  and  barren,  the  settle- 
ments scattered,  the  people  generally  very  poor, 
accommodations  meager,  and  everything  perplexing 
and  discouraging,  yet  the  Protestants  were  kind  and 
hospitable.  It  was  said  that  over  five-sixths  of  the 
people  were  French  Catholics.  As  I  threaded  the 
forests  and  breasted  the  wild  storms  of  a  Canadian 
winter,  struggling  through  snow-drifts,  and  sur- 
mounting the  difficulties,  I  confess  my  lonely  heart 
was  often  sad  and  heavy. 

On  reaching  a  settlement  I  usually  inquired  for  a 
Methodist  family,  told  them  I  was  a  preacher  from 
the  States  come  to  look  them  up  and  make  arrange- 
ments for  them  to  be  supplied  with  preaching  some- 
time in  the  near  future.  If  they  wished  it  I  would 
remain  over  night  and  preach  to  them  in  the  even- 
ing. They  would  make  a  rally  and  send  for  the 
Protestant  families  of  the  neighborhood  to  meet  in 
one  of  the  more  central  houses  for  a  meeting,  "  as  a 
preacher  had  come."  They  were  always  ready  to 
turn  out,  and  I  was  always  blest  in  ministering  to 
these  lost  sheep  in  the  wilderness.  They  received 
me  as  an  angel  from  heaven.  It  always  moved  me 
to  tears  to  hear  them  tell  in  the  class-meeting  after 
preaching,  how  they  had  prayed  that  God  would 
send  shepherds  to  feed  the  scattered  sheep,  and  lead 
them  in  the  pastures  of  his  love ;  and  now  as  he  had 
answered  prayer,   they  would   ''double  their  dili- 


Trials  and  Triumphs.  291 

gence"  in  his  service,  and  give  him  unceasing  praise. 

"  Joy  through  their  swimming  eves  did  break 
And  meant  the  thanks  they  could  not  speak." 

I  gathered  all  the  information  I  could  from  them 
about  the  other  settlements,  and  was  ready  tlie  next 
morning  to  push  on  to  the  next  pla<.e.  I  suffered 
with  hunger  and  cold ;  coarse  corn  bread,  often 
poorly  made,  potatoes  and  salt  pork,  generally  com- 
prised the  "bill  of  fare."  I  had  but  little  relish  for 
the  corn  bread  and  salt  pork,  but  with  potatoes  and 
salt,  seasoned  with  kind  words  and  loving  smiles 
and  God's  blessing,  I  was  satisfied  and  happy. 

The     buildings     were    generallv    small    "block 
houses,"  made  of  hewn  logs  chinked  between,  and 
the  barns  log  hovels  of  a  very  poor  qualitv.     Their 
houses   were    scantily   furnished,    beds   were   mere 
bunks,  and  everything  else  in  proportion.      Livino- 
was  but  bare  existence.     I  have   never  seen  such 
poverty  in  the  country  elsewhere.     In  the  squalid 
homes  of  extreme  poverty  in  the  great  cities  it 
might  be  found,  but  among  the  poorest  in  the  States 
I  have  never  seen  it  equaUed.     I  have  slept  in  a 
bunk  of  straw,  or  with  the  children  in  a  trundle-bed 
shivering  with  the  cold,  and  have  eaten  my  breakfast 
with  benumbed  hands  with  overcoat  and  muffler  on 
but  the  people  were  kind  and  hospitable,  and  around 
their  family  altars 

"Heaven  came  down  our  souls  to  greet, 
And  glory  crowned  the  mercy  seat."  ' 


292       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Anything  for  souls.  This  was  nothing  in  compar- 
ison to  what  Jesus  suffered  for  us.  Occasionally 
vou  would  find  a  more  pretentious  dwelHng  built  m 
pure  -  Franco-Canadian  style."  These  were  usually 
di^ified  ^vith  the  name  of  "  HalUr  I  have  slept 
in  one  of  them  in  a  bed  of  down  with  every  luxury, 
and  the  next  night  in  a  hovel,  with  fowls  roosting 
over  my  bunk,  and  calves  and  pigs  sleeping  at  my 

^?*  spent  over  two  weeks  in  this  work  preaching 
every  day  and  meeting  the  classes.     Our  meetmgs 
were  frequently  scenes  of  thrilling  interest ;   some- 
times we  could  not  go  through  with  the  class-meet- 
ing on  account  of  the  distress  of  the  awakened,  but 
must  leave  everything  else  to  pray  for  their  salva- 
tion    And  God  answered  prayer  just  as  he  did  in 
my  own  State,  for  he  had  said,  -To  this  man  wil  I 
look  who  is  of  a  broken  and  contrite  heart,  and  who 
trembles  at  my  word  ;"  and  these  neglected  men  and 
women  were  converted  just  as  gloriously.     Cxod  is 
no  respecter  of  person,  but  saves  aU  alike  whether 
rich  or  poor,  learned  or  unlearned,  who  come  to  hnn 
confessing  and  forsaking  sin. 

^'  The  poor  have  the  gospel  preached  unto  them, 
is  the  proclamation  of  our  sympathizig  Christ,  while 
on  earth  He  was  found  among  them,  and  still  invites 
them  and  rejects  none. 

"  The  poor  and  maimed,  the  halt  and  bhnd, 
In  Christ  a  hearty  welcome  find." 

I  reported  to  Mr.  Lord,  the  condition  of  things  as 


Trials  and  Triumphs. 


293 


I  found  them,  and  he  thanked  me  for  the  informa- 
tion, and  said  that  if  we  would  supply  the  appoint- 
ments we  had  in  Canada,  till  the  next  session  of 
their  conference,  they  would  relieve  us  and  supply 
the  work. 

On  my  way  home  I  held  a  two  days  meeting  at 
Coveytown,  in  Canada,  a  settlement  in  the  wilder- 
ness, the  most  distant  point  on  our  large  circuit.  It 
was  a  wild  region,  settled  by  wild  and  wicked  men. 
It  was  on  the  plan  the  year  before,  but  very  difficult 
of  access. 

Our  class  leader  was  a  very  poor  man,  with  a 
large  family,  but  one  of  the  most  pious  and  devout 
men  I  have  ever  met.  He  had  family  worship  three 
times  a  day,  kept  up  meetings  through  "  summer's 
heat  and  winter  s  cold,"  visited  his  neighbors,  and 
prayed  incessantly  for  their  salvation.  The  preach- 
ers had  become  discouraged  about  the  appointment, 
and  wanted  to  give  it  up,  but  he  begged  so  piteously 
that  it  was  continued. 

We  began  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  The  first  day 
we  seemed  to  make  no  impression,  but  the  afternoon 
of  the  second  day  we  had  a  great  "  break  down," 
both  among  saints  and  sinners.  In  the  evening  the 
mourners'  bench  was  filled  with  penitents,  and 
several  were  converted.  What  was  best  to  do  under 
the  circumstances  I  found  difficult  to  determine. 

I  was  worn  and  nearly  sick  and  could  scarcely  speak 
from  hoarseness.  I  ought  to  be  in  Chateaugay,  and 
resume  my  regular  appointments,  which  had  been 
supplied   by  a  local  preacher  during  my  absence. 


\\ 


294       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

• 
But  the  class  leader  and  the  few  members  entreated 
so  earnestly  that  I  should  remain,  that  after  I  had 
carried  it  to  God  in  prayer,  it  seemed  to  be  duty  to 
continue  the  meeting  a  few  days  longer. 

In  a  new  country,  when  a  revival  begins,  it  will 
run  like  tire  on  the  prairies,  so  with  the  work  here ; 
when  ten  or  fifteen  of  these  hardy  men  had  bf^en 
converted,  they  entered  into  the  work  with  all  their 
souls.  They  would  visit  their  neighbors,  and,  warm 
in  their  first  love,  tell  them  what  God  had  done  for 
their  souls,  and  urge  them  to  start  for  heaven ;  and 
how  they  would  work  in  the  meetings.  Their 
prayers,  it  is  true,  were  without  form  or  comeliness ; 
no  studied  phrases  or  rounded  periods,  but  in  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit,  and  with  power,  and  so  their 
appeals  and  exhortations  in  cockney  EngUsh,  in 
Corkonian  Irish,  and  in  Canadian  French,  more 
intelligent  to  themselves  than  polished  sentences, 
gave  a  mighty  impetus  to  the  work ;  and  God,  who 
interpreted  the  many  tongues  on  the  pentecost, 
made   clear    these    broken    dialects    to    the  eager 

listeners. 

During  the  meeting  a  preacher  came  round, 
having  an  appointment  at  the  log  school  house. 
He  belonged  to  a  sect  calling  themselves  "  Banters',' 
and  I  thought  they  were  properly  named,  for  it 
seemed  to  me  to  be  mere  rant.  His  text  was  "  Dust 
thou  art  and  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return."  He  was 
an  illiterate  Yorkshire-man,  with  dialect  scarcely 
intelligible.  He  spoke  with  a  boisterous,  drawling 
broffue,  that  to  me  was  amusing ;  his  thoughts  were 


Trials  and  Triumphs, 


295 


as  crude  and  unique  as  his  language.  He  told  how 
God  made  Adam,  by  mixing  the  dust  with  water, 
making  it  like  putty,  forming  it  as  a  roll,  then  sepa- 
rating the  limbs,  flattening  the  ends,  cutting  the 
fingers  and  toes  apart.  He  spent  considerable  time 
on  the  mechanism  of  the  head,  and  showed  some 
ingenuity  in  telling  us  how  the  ears,  nose,  mouth 
and  eyes  were  formed,  and  capped  the  climax  by 
showing  how  God  breathed  into  his  nostrils  the 
breath  of  life.  The  whole  thing  was  ludicrous,  and 
yet  there  was  an  earnestness  and  sincerity  about  it 
that  made  it  bearable.  His  description  of  death  was 
uncouth  and  appalling.  He  assured  us  that  he  saw 
angels,  and  conversed  with  them  every  day.  He 
described  them  as  beautiful  beings,  with  "golden 
wings  and  white  petticoats."  He  seemed  to  think 
their  mission  was  to  carry  good  people  "on  their 
backs  to  heaven,"  and  waxed  eloquent  as  he  repre- 
sented them  flying  through  the  air  in  flocks  from 
every  part  of  the  earth,  carrying  sanctified  Eanters 
through  the  pearly  gates,  and  setting  them  down  in 
circles  round  the  Throne.  The  people  became 
enthusiastic  under  his  rhapsody,  and  he  closed  in  a 
storm  of  excitement. 

I  would  have  been  disgusted  with  their  frenzy,  but 
for  their  apparent  sincerity.  I  thought,  if  God  could 
use  such  instruments  to  save  souls,  I  would  not  stand 
in  the  way.  They  made  us  no  trouble  in  our  meet- 
ing, and  regarded  us  as  too  "tame  and  lamed''  to 
do  God's  work. 


2U6      Berninisceiices  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

This  meeting  did  not  check  the  work,  as  the  people 
were  used  to  them,  but  we  went  on  the  next  morn- 
ing as  if  nothing  had  happened.  We  had  a  good 
sohd  work,  and  added  thirty-five  or  forty  to  the 
society,  who  became  Uving,  useful  members.  Tliis 
was  a  settlement  in  the  primeval  forest,  miles  from 
any  other  neighborhood.  It  was  a  broad  table  land, 
extending  five  or  six  miles  in  every  direction, 
inhabited  by  about  seventy-five  families,  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  low,  dense  wilderness,  infested  with 

ravenous  beasts. 

It  was  dangerous  to  travel  through  the  forest, 
except  in  such  numbei*s  as  would  protect  them 
against  attacks  from  ferocious  animals ;  bears,  pan- 
thers, and  wolves  were  abundant.  The  latter  roamed 
in  large  packs,  and  you  could  hear  them  howling  in 
every  direction,  especially  in  the  night,  when  the 
woods  seemed  alive  with  them.  The  people  came  to 
the  evening  meeting  armed  with  fire  brands,  which 
were  said  to  be  a  protection,  as  a  wild  beast  is  afraid 

of  fire. 

It  was  a  strange,  weird  sight,  to  see  the  congrega- 
tion on  leaving  the  meeting  and  going  to  their  homes, 
waving  their  fire  brands,  both  as  a  protection  and  a 
light.  I  have  stood  and  looked  around  on  the  fairy 
scene,  as  the  different  groups  moved  away  in  every 
direction,  over  hills  and  through  valleys,  the  fights 
gleaming  among  the  trees,  and  each  company  that 
passed  swinging  their  brands,  the  glare  giving  their 
faces  a  ghastly  appearance,  while  the  hearty  "  good 


Trials  and  Triu^nphs. 


297 


I 
r 


nights,"  the  songs  of  praise  and  the  joyous  shouts 
of  the  happy,  would  remind  you  that  they  were 
"  marching  to  Zion." 

It  is  an  old  adage,  "  when  among  the  Romans  you 
must  do  as  the  Komans  do,"  so  I  swung  my  fire 
brand,  and  sung — 

"  We  are  traveling  home  to  God, 
In  the  way  our  father's  trod ; 
They  are  happy  now  and  we 
Soon  their  happiness  shall  see." 

The  class  leader's  cabin  was  in  a  lonely  spot,  and 
it  amused  me  to  see  the  ingenious  devices  the  good 
man  had  arranged  to  protect  his  domestic  animals 
and  fowls  from  the  prowling  beasts  of  prey.  I  have 
heard  the  panther's  scream  and  the  wolfs  bark  in 
near  proximity  to  the  cabin,  when  I  was  not  charmed 
by  the  music. 

My  predecessor.  Rev.  B.  F.  Brown,  said  he  lodged 
in  the  room  that  I  now  occupied,  a  few  months 
before,  and  a  panther  came  to  the  opening  in  the 
logs  just  over  his  bed,  put  his  paws  on  the  window- 
sill,  looked  at  him  with  glaring  eyebaUs  for  awhile, 
and  growling  turned  slowly  away.  Brother  B.  said 
he  lay  and  trembled  through  the  night,  fearful  that 
if  he  stirred  the  panther  would  spring  upon  him,  but 
God's  watchful  angels  kept  him  safe. 

The  settlers  were  often  annoyed  by  these  wild 
beasts.  A  bear  would  swing  a  calf,  sheep,  or  pig  on 
his  back,  and  carry  it  to  the  thicket  for  his  break- 
fast.   The  catamount  would  kill  and  drag  it  to  a 


!r  i 


298       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

quiet  place  for  food;  but  the  hungry  wolves  that 
went  in  packs,  would  tear  it  in  pieces  and  devour  it 
on  the  spot. 

I  left  the  settlement  expecting  to  return  in  about 
six  weeks  on  my  regular  round  on  the  circuit,  but 
God  ordered  it  otherwise.  I  heard  often  through 
my  colleague  of  their  "  good  meetings,"  and  received 
messages  of  love  from  the  converts  and  brethren  as 
I  tossed  on  a  sick  bed. 

The  Canada  woods  are  photographed  on  ray 
memory.  The  corduroy  roads,  with  the  logs  some- 
times floating  in  the  water,  very  dangerous  to  pass  ; 
the  deep  mud  holes  in  which  a  horse  would  sink  up 
to  his  sides  in  the  mire ;  the  streams  to  be  forded,  and 
the  bridle  paths  marked  by  ''  blazed  trees,"  are  not 
to  be  forgotten. 

It  used  to  be  said  that  Methodist  preachers  rode 
eood  horses,  and  thev  needed  them,  for  no  ordinarv 
horse  could  carry  them  through.  With  Charlie 
Black  I  was  always  ready  for  an  emergency  ;  could 
swim  a  river,  soar  over  a  mountain,  skim  the  slough- 
holes,  shoot  over  a  "  floating  log  road,"  or  distance 
a  bear,  or  a  pack  of  hungry  wolves  on  a  fair  road. 
We  became  greatly  attached  to  our  noble  beasts; 
were  content  with  scantv  fare  ourselves,  if  our  horses 
were  only  provided  for.  If  we  had  but  twenty-five 
cents  we  would  spend  it  cheerfully  for  oats,  and  keep 
fast  dav  ourselves,  for  the  faithful  animals  that 
carried  us  over  those  wearv  roads  must  be  rewarded 
for  their  fidelitv.  These  horses  would  show  almost 
human  gratitude.     They  would  plunge  into  a  stream 


/ 


Trials  and  Triumphs. 


299 


at  our  bidding,  go  through  a  formidable  mud  hole 
when  commanded,  and  wait  on  the  other  side  until 
we  scrambled  around :  would  follow  without  leading 
when  we  went  before;  neigh  with  anxiety  if  we 
passed  out  of  sight,  and  when  belated  in  going  to  a 
distant  appointment,  seemed  to  enter  into  our  feel- 
ings, and  skim  the  ground,  reeking  with  perspiration. 


300       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


"  I  WILL  SEND  MY  ANGEL  BEFORE  THEE." 


[HE  evening  before  I  left  Corey  Hill,  two  of  the 
converts  proposed  to  convey  me  through  the 
bush  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  and  several 
others  insisted  also  on  going.  I  thought  two  would 
be  sufficient,  but  twenty  men  were  ready  to  go. 
They  said  they  would  be  at  the  class  leader's  in  the 
morning  at  "  crack  o'day,"  and  just  in  the  dawn 
they  began  to  assemble,  each  man  mounted  on 
horse-back. 

The  cavalcade  was  too  large,  and  we  persuaded  all 
but  six  to  stay  at  home.     We  started  in  single  file, 
three  in  front  of  me  and  three  in  the  rear,  each  man 
with  a  loaded  rifle  across  the  pommel  of  his  saddle. 
I  was  the  only  one  unarmed,  and  yet  I  had  the  "  old 
Damascus  blade,"  the  sword  of  the  spirit  in  my  sad- 
dle-bags, with  its  sharp  point  and  keen  double  edge, 
which  had  done  me  effective  service  in  the  battles  of 
the  Lord.     Some  thought  it  would  be  of  no  avail 
against  wolves  and  panthers,  and  yet  it  has  in  an 
emergency  proved   more   effectual   than  lead  and 
powder.     Take   the  "ordnance"  of  prayer,  loaded 
with  bullets  from  God's  word,  and  it  will  do  won- 
derful execution. 


/  will  send  my  angel  hefore  thee.  801 

Only  the  fall  before  one  of  our  devoted  members 
was  returning  home  one  rainy  afternoon,  and  was 
chased  by  a  pack  of  howhng  wolves.  As  they 
pressed  him  close  he  sprang  up  a  tree  just  in  time  to 
escape  their  fury.  One  of  the  ferocious  brutes  sprang 
after  him,  several  feet  from  the  ground,  seized  his 
foot  and  nearly  dragged  him  from  the  tree  before  he 
could  get  out  of  reach.  From  an  altitude  of  about 
twenty  feet  above  them  he  beheld  a  sight  that  made 
his  brave  heart  quail.  There  were  over  a  dozen 
lean,  lank,  hungry  wolves,  howling  and  snapping 
their  teeth,  and  raging  at  the  loss  of  their  prey. 
They  fought  with  each  other  as  they  went  round 
and  round  the  tree,  looking  up  at  their  prisoner  as 
he  sat  trembling  among  the  branches.  His  trusty 
rifle  hung  by  his  side,  but  his  ammunition  was  nearly 
exhausted.  He  had  but  two  or  three  rounds  left. 
He  knew  the  habits  of  the  wolves,  that  having  treed 
their  game,  they  would  watch  and  wait  results.  He 
expected  to  spend  the  night  in  the  tree,  but  thought 
he  would  try  the  experiment  of  a  shot.  Aiming  at 
a  large,  lank  brute,  which  seemed  to  be  the  leader 
of  the  pack,  he  sent  a  bullet  through  his  heart.  A 
yelp  and  bound,  and  before  he  scarcely  reached  the 
ground  the  whole  pack  sprang  upon  him,  voraciously 
tore  him  into  pieces,  and  devoured  him,  so  that  in  a 
few  minutes  not  a  scrap  was  to  be  seen.  The  bones 
were  carried  bv  them  into  the  thicket,  and  he  could 
hear  them  cracking  and  crunching  them  with  their 
teeth.  He  had  no  more  ammunition  to  waste,  as  it 
might  be  needed  in  the  future.     Now  was  the  time 


302       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

to  test  his  religion,  and  it  did  not  fail  him.  He 
remembered  Daniel  in  the  lions  den,  and  how  God 
delivered  him,  and  Daniel's  God  was  his  God. 

There  sat  the  snarling  wolves  upon  their  haunches, 
looking  up  at  him  with  glaring,  fiery  eyes,  seeming 
content  to  bide  their  time,  and  he  asked  God  to  send 
him  deliverance,  plead  the  promise,  "  Call  upon  me 
in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  I  will  deliver  thee,"  and 
God  did  deliver  him.  While  he  prayed,  the  wolves 
o-ot  into  a  general  fight  among  themselves,  and 
scampered  off. 

He  could  hear  them  howling  in  the  distance. 
Coming  down  from  the  tree,  he  pursued  his  journey, 
reached  home  in  the  twilight,  and  uniting  with  his 
family,  they  thanked  God  for  his  deliverance. 

My  escort  had  no  fear  of  wolves ;  they  could  put 
to  flight  a  large  pack,  but  they  kept  a  sharp  eye  on 
the  branches  of  the  trees  before  us,  knowing  it  was 
the  habit  of  the  panther  on  the  approach  of  prey  to 
go  on  before  and  springing  into  a  tree,  crouch  upon 
a  limb,  ready  to  pounce  suddenly  upon  it  as  it  came 
along  unconscious  of  danger.  But  nothing  molested 
us.     God  covered  us  with  his  wings  and  we  were 

safe. 

The  road  was  bad,  snow  and  mud  deep  and  crusty, 
traveling  difficult  and  slow  ;  but  we  beguiled  the 
tedium  by  bursts  of  song.  About  the  middle  of  the 
woods  we  called  a  halt,  and  had  a  prayer-meeting  in 
the  snow ;  our  horses  were  refreshed,  and  our  own 
spiritual  strength  renewed. 

After  a  ride  of  about  four  hours  we  reached  a 


/  will  send  my  angel  before  thee,  303 

settlement  on   the  "Lower  Scenery,"  and  having 
brought  me  beyond  danger,  my  kind  escort  proposed 
to  return  to  their  homes.     I  urged  them  to  accom- 
pany me  to  some  of  the  homes  of  the  brethren,  who 
would  greet  them  with  a  welcome   to  their  hos- 
pitalities ;   but  they  declined,   and  gathering  close 
together  we  sat  in  the  saddle  with  uncovered  heads, 
while  we  offered  a  prayer  for  their  safe  return  to 
their  homes,  and  their  prosperity  in  the  divine  fife. 
A  parting  hymn,  with  hand-shaking  and  many  kind 
words  and  "  God  bless  yous,''  and  this  kind,  noble 
band  of  converts,  young  men  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty-five  years  of  age,  all  heads  of  families,  retraced 
their  steps  homeward.     I  could  hear  their  songs  of 
praise  when  they  were  half  a  mile  away,  and  catch 
the  words  of  the  chorus  as  they  rolled  through  the 
air  in  their  rich  Scotch  dialect, 

"  We'll  tree'd  the  poo'ers  of  Satan  doon, 
He  that  conquers  weers  the  crown." 

Offering  a  prayer  from  my  heart  for  these  brave 
men  and  their  families  that  they  might  go  through 
life  treading  the  powers  of  Satan  down  and  win  the 
conquerors  crown,  and  wiping  the  falling  tears  from 
my  cheeks  I  pushed  on  to  my  stopping  place. 

Arriving  at  Father  Taylor's,  found  pleasant  rest 
for  man  and  beast;  after  dinner,  several  of  the 
neighbors  came  in  and  spent  a  half-hour  socially.  We 
had  a  religious  service  in  the  form  of  a  class-meeting, 
inquiring  after  the  spiritual  condition  of  each,  and 
commending  all  to  God  in  earnest  prayer,  and  then 


304       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

starting  for  the  Upper  Scenery,  twenty  miles  distant, 
reached  Bro.  Caulkins  in  time  for  the  evening  meet- 
ing. Found  the  converts  doing  well,  especially  the 
four  families,  in  whose  marriage  I  had  interested 
myself,  as  related  in  a  former  chapter. 

They  were  very  grateful  for  my  perseverance  in 
lifting  them  out  of  their  degradation,  and  starting 
them  in  the  way  to  respectability  and  heaven.  They 
had  the  confidence  of  the  community  and  were 
earnest  workers  in  religion. 

The  next  morning  I  rode  through  a  drifting  storm 
to  North  Chateaugay  ;  found  the  work  of  revival  still 
progressing,  the  converts  growing  in  grace,  and  the 
church  in  a  rising  spiritual  condition.  I  had  been 
absent  five  weeks;  my  colleagues  had  both  been 
doing  a  good  work,  and  the  state  of  the  circuit  was 
generally  satisfactory. 

Sabbath  morning  my  appointment  was  at  Cha- 
teaugay Corners,  at  10  o'clock.  Found  our  Presby- 
terian brethren  holdkig  a  protracted  meeting  there. 
They  commenced  with  a  sermon  at  9  o'clock,  invited 
people  to  the  anxious  seat;  would  often  consume 
more  than  an  hour  in  urging  them  forward,  and 
with  a  prayer  now  and  then,  would  spend  sometimes 
two  hours  in  instructing  them  to  submit. 

The  great  idea  with  them  was  that  the  impenitent 
were  afopen  war  with  God ;  hated  Him  with  a  per- 
fect hatred ;  were  anxious  to  dethrone  Him.  They 
ridiculed  the  idea  of  seeking  God ;  of  praying  for  a 
new  heart,  or  using  means  for  conversion ;  that  all 
such   efforts   were   hypocritical  and  delusive;  that 


/  ^oill  send  my  angel  before  thee.  305 

every  thing  they  did  or  said  before  they  submitted, 
or  had  given  their  hearts  to  God,  was  all  sin.  Men 
must  make  themselves  "new  hearts,  and  a  new 
spirit,  and  instantly  submit  to  God."  That  conver- 
sion was  submission,  and  as  soon  as  any  one  would 
say  that  he  was  willing  to  submit  to  God,  he  was 
pronounced  converted,  and  was  moved  to  another 
seat,  which  was  occupied  by  those  who  professed 
submission. 

The  whole  process  seemed  to  be  mechanical. 
There  was  no  joy  in  the  heart,  no  witness  of  the 
Spirit,  no  evidence  of  a  change.  Just  bare  "  submis- 
sion" on  his  own  judgment.  Instead  of  teaching 
repentance,  penitence,  faith,  a  radical  change  oi 
heart,  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  peace,  joy,  a  life 
of  consecration  and  acti\ity,  it  was  bare  submission, 
cold  and  intellectual.  These  protracted  meetings 
have  had  their  day,  and  many  of  all  denominations 
now  believe  that  whilst  they  were  productive  of 
some  good,  did  much  injury  by  filling  up  the 
churches  with  unconverted  people,  and  leaving  the 
masses  hardened  and  disgusted.  Such  a  course 
would  not  be  tolerated  now  by  any  church. 

These  old  protracted  meetings,  as  they  were  con- 
conducted,  poisoned  community,  and  left  a  hard 
state  of  things  behind  them.  Vhile  such  men  as 
Charles  G.  Finney  did  good,  other  men,  less  ortho- 
dox, confused  and  distracted  the  public  mind.  But 
the  Methodists  held  on  the  even  tenor  of  their  way, 

preaching  human  depravitv,  the  necessitv  of  rei)ent- 

20  '  * 


306       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

ance,  pardon,  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  and  a  holy 

life. 

Kev.  Mr.  Foot,  an  evangelist,  was  conducting  the 
meeting.  lie  preached  an  able  sermon  that  morn- 
ing, confuting  the  leading  errors  of  XJniversalism  ; 
made  some  good  points,  and  drove  them  home  to 
the  conscience,  but  lacked  the  tenderness  of  the 
Gospel.  A  little  incident  occurred  during  the  ser- 
mon, which  showed  the  character  of  the  man.  It 
was  a  severe  cold  dav,  and  a  woman  came  into  the 
church  with  a  young  child  in  her  arms.  She  and 
her  husband  had  come  from  a  distance  to  attend  the 
meeting,  and  were  thoroughly  chilled.  She  took  a 
seat  behind  the  stove,  near  the  door.  The  minister 
discovering  the  sleeping  babe,  commanded  the 
woman  to  take  the  child  out  of  the  house,  and  while 
she  was  gathering  its  wraps  around  it,  spoke  again 
in  a  loud  mandatory  voice :  "  That  child  must  be 
removed;  the  church  is  no  place  for  dogs  or  chil- 
dren." She  left  the  house,  followed  by  her  husband, 
who  was  very  angry  at  the  treatment. 

Some  of  our  people  on  their  way  to  the  Methodist 
meeting  found  the  weeping  woman  and  her  angry 
companion  in  the  street,  and  invited  them  to  go  with 
them  to  the  school  house.  The  man  objected,  saying 
"  if  that  is  religion  "  he  wanted  nothing  more  to  do 
with  it.  But  they  assured  him  it  was  only  the  taste 
of  one  man,  and  he  must  not  attribute  it  to  religion. 
Just  at  that  moment  I  came  along  and  joined  in  the 
request.     The  man  said  if  the  babe  had  cried  he 


/  will  send  my  angel  before  thee.  307 

would  not  have  blamed  the  minister,  but  it  was  per- 
fectly quiet.     I  told  him  that  the  man  meant  all 
right;  was  afraid  the  child  might  crv  and  disturb 
him ;  but  I  loved  children  and  thev  seldom  annoved 
me     I  thought  it  made  itjnore  like  heaven  to  have 
children  in  a  meeting,  for  Jesus  said  -  Of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."     They  went  with  us  to  the 
school  house.    We  had  an  excellent  meeting ;  several 
arose  for  prayers,  among  them  the  woman  with  the 
babe,  and  her  husband.     They  were  converted  with 
several  others,   and   became  excellent  members  of 
society.     The  man  was  a  substantial  farmer,   and 
made  an  earnest  Christian. 

I  remained  at  the  meeting  so  long  that  I  had  onlv 
half  an  hour  before  my  next  appointment,  five  miles 
distant.  But  I  knew  that  Charlie  Black  would  be  on 
time  and  Sister  Smith  would  have  mv  dinner  smok- 
ing on  the  table. 

Our  class-meeting  at  North  Chateaugav  was  a  time 
ot  refreshing.     Old  and  young  were  in  the  work 
and  the  testimonies  were  spiritual  and  quickening  • 
every  one  on  the  wing  for  glory.  ' 

My  evening  appointment  at  ^'^  early  candle  Ught  " 
was  at  Ilinchenbrook,  in  Canada,  but  with  diligence 
I  reached  it  in  time,  and  Ood  was  with  us  in  power 
to  convert  and  sanctify. 

Those  were  busy  days.     We  usually  spent  from 
six  to  eight  hours  in  the  meetings  on  the  Sabbath 
and  rode  from  fifteen  to  thirty  miles.     "  I  can  do  all 
things  through  Christ  who  strengtheneth  me." 

On    returning    from     Ilinchenbrook    to    Xorth 


308       Reminiscences  of  Laiiy  Circuit  Life, 

Chateaugay,  I  found  Brother  C.  L.  Dunning  had 
come  for  me  to  go  to  Malone,  and  assist  in  a  meeting 
that  he  had  commenced  there.     I  did  not  see  how  I 
could  leave  the  work  on  ray  own  charge,  having 
been  absent  in  Canada  for  some  weeks,  and  since  my 
return   had   arranged   with   my  colleagues   for  an 
active  campaign  during  the  rest  of  the  winter.     But 
Brother   D.  brought  a  letter  from   the  Presiding 
Elder,  directing  me  to  have  a  local  preacher  fill  ray 
appoiktraent,  and  go  to  Malone,  and  assist  Brother 
Dunning  during  the   continuance  of    his   meeting. 
This  wa^s  official,  and  although  it  was  a  great  trial 
to  leave  my  own  circuit,  when  the  prospects  were  so 
bright  for  a  general  revival,  yet  as  a  son  in  the 
Gospel,   I  was  ready  to   go  when    and  where  the 
authorities  of  the  church  raight  direct,  with  cheerful 

submission. 

Brother  D.  insisted  upon  ray  accompanying  him 
that  day  to  his  charge,  to  preach  in  the  evening  ;  but 
this  was  impracticable,  as  I  must  see  my  colleagues, 
and  make  suitable   arrangements  with   them,  and 
have  things  put  in  proper  order  before  leaving.     I 
could  meet  Brother  Stoddard  at  his  Monday  evening 
meeting,  and  by  taking  a  very  early  start  Tuesday 
morning,  we  could  reach  Brother  Kingley  before  he 
left  for  his  evening  appointment.     We  spent  a  few 
hours  together,  and  made  our  arrangements.     The 
brethren  were  greatly  disappointed,  as  my  absence 
would  make  quite  a  difference  in  the  plans  of  the 
winter,  especially  if  I  should  be  kept  away,  as  we 
feared  I  raight  be  for  several  weeks.    But  we  com- 


/  icill  send  my  anyel  before  thee.  309 

forted  ea<?h  other,  had  an  earnest  season  of  prayer, 
asking  Divine  guidance  and  help,  and  separated 
fully  believing  that  "  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God." 

1  reported  that  same  afternoon  at  Malone,  for 
duty,  and  with  fear  and  trembling  entered  upon 
my  work.  Malone  was  the  largest  and  most  impor- 
tant village  in  Franklin  county.  It  was  the  county 
seat,  and  had  several  county  officials  and  prominent 
men. 

The  county  had  been  settled  principally  by  emi- 
grants from  the  eastern  States.  They  were  a  hardy, 
enterprising,  intelligent  class  of  people,  moral  in 
their  hves,  and  many  of  them  religious.  The 
majority  belonged  to  what  was  then  called  the 
"  standing  order,''  or  Congregationalists,  because  as 
some  said,  they  were  the  most  prominent  denomina- 
tion in  the  east,  or  as  others  thought,  because  they 
were  in  the  habit  of  standing  erect  in  prayer. 
Be  this  as  it  may,  they  had  brought  with  them  their 
Puritan  habits  and  prejudices.  They  were  strict 
observers  of  the  Sabbath,  and  great  church  goers. 
Many  of  them  had  been  brought  up  under  the  old 
Connecticut  "  Blue  laws,"  where  it  was  said  men 
whipped  their  beer  barrels  Monday  mornings  for 
working  on  the  Sabbath,  but  w-ere  less  careful  in 
their  observance  of  the  third  commandment  and 
other  moral  precepts.  In  moving  into  a  new  coun- 
try, a  majority  were  anxious  to  provide  themselves 
with  church  privileges,  such  as  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed   to;    while    many   were  annoyed   with   the 


310      Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

dogmas  of  hyper-Calvinism,  and  feeling  oppressed 
by  the  tithing  system  of  the  east,  requiring  them  to 
pky  an  annual  tax  to  support  the  church,  shook  off 
the  burden,  and  welcomed  the  "free  Gospel,"  as 
preached  by  the  Methodists,  and  their  voluntary 
method  of  supporting  the  church. 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  Battle.  311 


CHAPTER  XX. 


MAJ^NING  THE  FORT  FOR  THE  BATTLE. 


J'^HIS  tithing  system  became  a  great  annoyance, 
settling  the  minister's  salary  on  the  town,  and 
collecting  it  as  a  tax  whether  a  person  attended 
the  church  or  not;  or  whether  the  creed  was  in 
accordance  with  their  views,  or  repugnant  to  their 
convictions.  It  became  very  onerous  to  dissenting 
bodies,  for  they  not  only  supported  the  church  of 
their  choice,  but  were  compelled  by  law  to  pay  their 
full  proportion  of  the  salary  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  If  they  did  not  pay  voluntarily,  their  prop- 
erty was  sold  to  the  highest  bidder  to  satisfy  the 
demands  of  the  tithing  men,  or  church  officials. 

While  this  was  a  very  light  and  easy  way  for  the 
communicants  of  the  church  and  their  adherents  to 
raise  the  pastor's  salary  and  meet  their  church 
expenses,  yet  it  became  ''  a  stone  of  stumbling  and  a 
rock  of  offense  "  to  many.  It  caused  bitterness  and 
controversy  between  the  sects,  and  was  so  unbear- 
able that  public  opinion  became  so  strong  against  it 
that  it  was  set  aside  and  regulated  by  law  as  unjust 
and  impartial ;  that  it  could  not  be  made  to  harmon- 
ize with  the  genius  of  our  free  government.     The 


312       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Methodists,  Baptists  and  other  denominations  were 
strongly  opposed  to  this  union  of  church  and  State. 
Their  pulpits  fulminated  strongly  their  dissent,  and 
many  an  amusing  incident  grew  out  of  it,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  fierce  controversies  or  bitter  invec- 
tives occasioned  thereby. 

I  will  mention  one  incident  that  used  to  be  related 
with  great  gusto   by  those  opposed  to  the  tithing 
svstem :     When  Methodism  was  first  introduced  into 
one  of  the  eastern  towns  it  attracted  general  atten- 
tion, as  it  usually  did,  by  the  peculiarity  of  its  doc- 
trines ;  representing  God  as  an  impartial  being ;  car- 
ing for  all  his  creatures ;  offering  salvation  alike  to 
all  on  the  same  condition,  "  repentance  towards  God, 
and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."     Teaching  that 
Christ  died  for  all,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  strives  with 
all,  the  gospel  calls  all  to  come  to  the  "marriage 
feast"   and  partake  freely  of  the   benefits  of  the 
atonement,  "without  money  and   without    price." 
All  stand  to  God  naturally  on  the  same  ground, 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins ;  salvation  is  purchased 
for  all ;  as  a  moral  agent  man  can  choose  or  refuse ; 
ministers,  as  God's  ambassadors,  are  sent  to  treat  with 
rebel  sinners,  and  offer  them  terms  of  reconcilation  ; 
that  if  they  will  lay  down  their  weapons  of  rebell- 
ion, God  for  Christ's  sake  will  accept  them,  and  take 
them  into  allegiance  with  himself.     Hence  the  doc- 
trine of  regeneration,   "Ye  must  be  born  again," 
become  a  new  creature ;  "  Walk  not  after  the  fleshy 
but  after  the  spirit,"  glorify  God,  etc.,  etc. 

This  was  contrary  to  the  dogmas  of  the  day,  and 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  Battle.  313 

met  with  great  opposition.  Their  extempore  man- 
ner of  speaking  took  with  the  people,  and  this  with 
the  scriptural  and  common  sense  view  of  the  plan  of 
salvation,  overcame  their  prejudices,  and  opened 
their  eyes  to  the  errors  of  the  day.  The  cry  of 
"wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,"  "false  teachers," 
"false  prophets,"  "seducing  the  people,"  and,  if  pos- 
sible, "deceiving  the  very  elect,"  did  not  prevent 
their  being  heard.  It  was  represented  that  they 
were  ignorant  men,  "blind  leaders  of  the  blind," 
circumscribed  in  their  views,  and  if  taken  out  of 
their  circle  would'  be  easily  confounded.  But  Tvhen- 
ever  attacked  they  were  found  more  than  a  match 
for  their  enemies. 

In  a  certain  town  the  parish  minister  seemed  exas- 
perated against  them,  and  said  many  hard  things 
about  them.  Some  of  their  friends  said,  "  If  thev 
are  false  teachers,  why  not  expose  them  publicly  ? 
You  are  set  for  the  defence  of  the  Gospel,  and  it  is 
your  duty  to  expose  their  errors,  and  defend  the 
truth."  He  was  induced  to  challenge  the  Methodist 
preacher  to  a  public  discussion,  and  proposed  to 
meet  him  in  the  parish  church,  and  each  would  give 
the  other  a  text,  after  the  opening  exercises,  on 
which  he  was  to  preach  extemporaneously. 

The  Methodist  was  to  preach  first  and  that  would 
give  the  pastor  an  opportunity  to  confute  his  doc- 
trine. Evers^  one  was  excited  over  the  result.  It 
was  generally  thought  by  the  "standing  order" 
that  the  challenge  would  be  declined,  but  when  the 
preacher  came  on  his  rounds  to  his  appointment  and 


314      Berniniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  challenge  was  presented  to  him,  he  readily 
accepted  it.  So  at  the  time  appointed  a  great  crowd 
assembled,  the  country  seemed  astir. 

After  singing  and  prayer  the  Methodist  preacher 
stood  up  in  the  pulpit  ready  for  his  text.     It  was 
given  with  an  air  that  indicated  that  it  was  a  stun- 
ner, and  would   perfectly   confound   the   preacher. 
The  text  was  in  Numbers  22-21,  "  And  Balaam  rose 
in  the  morning  and  saddled  his  ass.'-     A  titter  ran 
through  the  house  among  those  who  were  opposed 
to  the  new  doctrine.     But  the  preacher  received  it 
calmly,  announced  it  distinctly  and  began  his  dis- 
course with  the  clearness  and  confidence  of  one  who. 
was   familiar  with   the   subject.     He   showed  that 
Balaam  was  a  backslidden  prophet.     Had  once  been 
employed  by  God  in  revealing  truth  to  men,  but  had 
become   worldly,   and   as   Peter  says,   "loved    the 
wages  of  unrighteousness "  and  "  had  forsaken  the 
right  way  f  was  ready  to  curee  Israel  if  God  had 
not  put  a  hook  in  his  jaws ;  would  do  anything  for 
money;  a  type  of  the  ministers  of  that  day  who 
loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness ;  were  willing  to 
preach  for  a  fat  salary,  but  without  it  would  let  the 
lost  sheep  starve  in  the  wilderness.     And  then  he 
went  on  to  show  that  Balaam  represented  the  parish 
minister,  the  ass  the  church,  the  saddle  the  salary,  the 
girth  that  fastened  the  saddle  on  the  ass  was  the 
tithing  law.     That  as  Balaam  arose  in  the  morning 
and  saddled  his  ass,  so  the  minister  made  it  his  first 
and  principle  business  to  see  to  the  salary,  fleece  the 
people,  etc.      From  these  premises    he    gave    the 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  Battle.  315 

"hirelings"  a  thorough  showing  up,  and  sat  down 
triumphant.  Every  one,  even  his  enemies  accorded 
him  talent,  shrewdness,  and  good  common  sense  in 
the  application. 

After  a  hymn  was  sung  the  parish  minister  arose 
in  the  pulpit  to  receive  his  text  and  commence  his 
sermon.  The  Methodist  preacher  gave  him  Num- 
bers 22-30,  "Am  not  I  thine  ass."  The  dominie 
blushed,  seemed  confused,  but  announced  the  text, 
"^Im  not  I  tJdne  ass  f  "  but  not  a  thought  came  to 
him.  He  repeated  it  again  and  again,  but  not 
another  sentence  escaped  his  lips.  After  repeating 
it  the  fourth  or  fiftli  time,  one  of  his  friends  arose, 
imtated,  and  said  excitedly,  "  Yes^  you  are  a  real 
Methodist  assr  The  laugh  now  was  on  the  other 
side,  and  the  congregation  dispersed,  one  side  jubi- 
lant with  victory,  the  other  mortified  by  defeat. 

In  those  early  days  the  Methodist  preachers  were 
generally  looked  upon  as  an  ilhterate  and  ignorant 
class  of  men.  True,  many  of  them  were  without 
scholastic  training,  had  never  trod  in  classic  halls,  and 
were  not  familiar  with  the  dead  languages.  Still  they 
were  not  uneducated  men  in  the  proper  sense  of  the 
word.  According  to  Webster  "Education  is  prop- 
erly to  draw  forth,  and  implies  the  discipline  of  the 
intellect,  the  establishment  of  the  principles,  and  the 
regulations  of  the  heart ;  to  instruct,  teach, 
inform ;''  and  all  who  came  in  contact  with  the  early 
preachers  learned  that  they  were  disciplined  in  their 
calling,  "  apt  to  teach,"  and  always  ready  to  instruct 
the  ignorant.    Look  at  the  result  of  their  labors  in 


3ir»       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circnit  Life. 

building  schools  and  raising  up  an  intelligent  and 
])owerful  church  which  has  always  been  efficient  in 
every  good  work.  They  were  not  the  class  of  men 
to  be  trifled  with,  and  those  who  attempted  it  did  it 
at  their  cost. 

Two  lawyers  named  Bush  and  Root,  traveling  on 
horseback  to  the  circuit  court,  saw  a  Methodist 
preacher  moving  on  his  rounds  before  them.  They 
knew  him  bv  his  broad  brimmed  drab  hat,  his  white 
neckerchief,  without  a  collar,  and  the  never-failing 
saddle-bags.  They  resolved  to  have  some  fun  at  his 
expense,  so  quickening  their  pace,  they  were  soon 
abreast  with  him,  and  raising  their  hats  politely,  one 
of  them  accosted  him ;  "  Good  morning  parson,  I 
believe  I  have  the  pleasure  of  addressing  a  Methodist 
minister?  "  The  good  man  replied  that  he  had  the 
honor  of  being  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  in  his  humble  way  was  endeavoring  to  turn 
sinners  to  repentance. 

The  other  said  "  My  name  is  Bush  and  this  is  my 
friend  Mr.  Koot ;  ^ve  are  lawyers  by  profession,  and 
are  on  our  way  to  court,  and  like  yourself  are  on 
our  way  to  heaven,  and  would  be  glad  to  learn  your 
views  of  that  blessed  place."  The  preacher  meekly 
replied  that  it  was  "  a  broad  extended  plain,  full  of 
angels  and  redeemed  spirits  and  without  a  'Bush  or 
a  Root '  in  it." 

This  was  a  home  thrust  that  they  did  not  relish ; 
but  changing  their  tactics  they  said  "  As  your  preach- 
ers generally  speak  extemporaneously,  do  you  not 
frequently  make  mistakes,  and  how  do  you  manage 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  Battle,  317 

to  correct  them?"  The  preacher  replied,  ''  Yes,  we 
sometimes  make  mistakes,  and  if  they  do  not  convey 
our  meaning  we  correct  them  on  the  spot ;  but  if  it  is 
merely  in  the  language  and  does  not  change  the 
meaning  of  the  text,  we  take  no  notice  of  it,  but 
pass  on.  For  instance  I  was  preaching  the  other 
day,  and  wishing  to  quote  the  text,  '  The  devil  is  a 
liar  and  the  father  of  lies,'  I  got  it  the  devil  is  a 
lawyer  and  the  father  of  lawyers,  and  as  it  is  a  w^ell 
known  truth,  I  did  not  stop  to  change  the  word." 

Instead  of  having  fun  with  the  preacher,  they 
found  that  he  was  playing  with  them.  But  they 
<30uld  not  escape  until  like  a  faithful  Methodist  he 
had  warned  them  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come ;  and 
bring  forth  fruit  meet  for  repentance. 

When  Jesse  Lee,  the  apostle  of  Methodism  in  the 
€ast,  was  preaching  in  Connecticut,  a  parish  minister 
])roposed  to  confound  him  and  expose  his  ignorance 
before  the  people.  He  invited  his  brother  clergymen 
to  be  present  at  Mr.  Lee's  appointment,  and  witness 
the  discomfiture. 

They  found  as  usual,  when  Mr.  L.  preached,  a 
large  audience.  At  the  close  of  a  deeply  solemn 
service,  when  the  people  were  greatly  affected,  the 
clergyman  arose  and  asked  the  preacher  a  question 
in  Latin.  Divining  his  purpose,  Mr.  Lee  promptly 
answered  him  in  "Low  Dutch."  The  clerffvman 
sat  dow^n  abashed,  and,  when  the  meeting  closed, 
said  to  his  brother  ministers,  "  Be  careful  how  you 
attack  that  man ;  let  him  alone,  for  he  is  a  very 
learned  man.     I  asked  him  a  question  in  Latin,  and 


318      Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

he  answered  me  in  Hebrew/ '  "  If  any  man  think 
he  standeth,  let  him  take  heed  lest  he  fall." 

At  this  time  there  was  a  strong  Congregational 
church  in  Malone,  a  respectable  Baptist  Church, 
though  not  large,  a  small  Episcopal  Church,  a  Uni- 
versalist  Church,  and  a  rising  ^lethodist  Church. 
Sectarianism  had  run  very  high  among  them,  each 
contending  warmly  for  their  favorite  tenets. 

The  year  before,  however,  when  Eev.  John  Lovoys 
was  on  the  circuit,  a  better  state  of  things  was 
brought  about,  especially  between  the  Methodists 
and  Congregationalists.  They  had  a  large  public 
meeting,  and  agreed  to  harmonize  in  the  essentials 
of  reliction,  and  not  contend  about  non-essentials; 
but  live  in  Christian  fellowship,  meeting  in  fraternal 
love  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  work  each  in  their  own 
way,  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Gospel. 

There  was  peace  and  unity  among  the  churches ; 
not  that  warm,  fraternal  cathohcity  which  now  so 
largely  prevails,  but  an  increasing  Christian  union 
which  was  in  advance  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  and 
verging  to  St.  PauFs  ''unity  of    the  spirit  in   the 

bonds  of  peace." 

My  recollection  of  the  ministers  of  the  place  is 
very  pleasant.  Rev.  Ashbel  Parmalee  was  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church.  There  were  three 
brothers,  all  of  them  Congregational  ministers— 
Ashbel,  Simeon,  and  ^Nloses.  The  last  was  pastor  of 
a  church,  somewhere  in  the  east,  for  many  years, 
and  w^as  chaplain  of  the  Clinton  State  Prison  the 
last  years  of  his  life. 


y^MM&s,iftMitjaiMi*i.ijiisaaii 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  Battle.  319 

I  heard  him  preach  in  my  boyhood,  from  the  text 
"  Adam,  where  art  thou  ? "  The  sermon  was  quaint 
and  unique.  The  heads  struck  me  as  apt  and 
natural.  They  were— I.  Man  is  somewhere;  II. 
Be  is  often  where  he  ought  not  to  he;  and  III. 
Wherever  he  is  God  will  find  him  out.  Though  I 
was  very  young  the  sermon  made  a  deep  impression 
on  my  memory. 

Simeon  was  an  able  minister.  He  was  pastor  of 
a  Congregational  Church,  in  Vermont,  for  many 
years,  and  spent  his  last  years  with  his  daughter  in 
Oswego,  living  to  an  extreme  old  age.  While  I  was 
pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
that  city,  in  1865,  '66,  and  '67,  he  was  my  neighbor,  a 
hale,  genial,  sweet  spirited  old  gentleman,  loved  and 
venerated  by  the  people.  He  used  to  attend  often 
our  church  on  the  Sabbath,  as  it  was  much  nearer 
his  residence,  than  the  Congregational.  It  was  a 
grekt  pleasure  to  me  to  have  the  venerable  man  par- 
ticipate in  the  services. 

But  Ashbel  was  e\idently  the  ablest  of  the  three. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  talents,  well  adapted  to  that 
age,  an  earnest,  successful,  pioneer  preacher,  carry- 
ing the  Gospel  into  the  towns  and  neighborhoods 
around  him.  He  was  a  strong  polemic,  and  often 
engaged  in  the  controversies  of  that  day ;  was  a 
good  man,  and  built  up  a  strong  church  in  Malone. 
I  have  met  him  often  in  my  father's  house  at  Fort 
Covington,  during  my  boyhood,  and  though  he  used 
to  say  that  he  "  owed  me  a  grudge  for  not  joining 
the  church  of  my  father,"   yet  he  w^as  very  kind 


320       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

to  me,  and  rejoiced  in  my  prosperity.  He  had  out- 
grown his  belligerence,  and  learned  that  the  world 
was  wide  enough  for  all,  and  that  God  used  other 
churches,  as  well  as  his  own,  to  bring  men  to  Christ. 
I  greatly  enjoyed  his  fellowship  during  that  meeting, 
and  was  profited  by  his  counsels  and  prayers. 

Kev.  Charles  L.  Dunning  was  then  a  young  man, 
full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  was  not 
a  great  sermonizer,  but  a  powerful  exhorter,  a 
Boanerges  of  the  loudest  type  ;  a  man  of  the  people, 
very  popular,  and  generally  beloved.  He  had  a  fine 
physique,  open,  attractive  countenance,  full  voice, 
and  perfect  health.  He  was  an  indefatigable  worker, 
and  intent  on  saving  souls ;  could  visit  from  house 
to  house,  preach  and  pray  from  early  morn  till  after 
midnight,  day  after  day,  without  apparent  weari- 
ness, and  in  his  early  ministry  was  always  successful. 
When  appointed  to  Malone,  the  first  few  Sabbaths 
the  elite  and  fastidious  were  disgusted  with  his 
boisterous  manner ;  but  he  soon  won  all  hearts  by 
his  kind,  loving,  earnest  spirit,  and  w^as  universally 
popular  when  this  meeting  commenced. 

I  am  not  able  to  recall  the  name  of  the  pastor  of 
ihe  Baptist  Church.  He  was  a  pleasant,  gentle- 
manly man,  affable  in  manner,  devoted  to  the  cause, 
felt  a  great  interest  in  the  revival,  but  could  not 
devote  very  much  of  his  time  to  our  meetings,  as  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  paramount  duty  to  strengthen  and 
build  up  his  own  church. 

The  E])iscopal  Church  was  without  a  rector,  and 
the  Universahsts  had  no  meetings,  only  when  there 


Manning  the  Fort  for  the  BattU,  321 

was  a  stir  among  the  other  churches.    They  reminded 
rate  of  a  tract  that  I  read  when  I  was  a  boy.     It  was 
an   allegory  written  in  the  style  of  Bunyan's  Pil- 
grim's Progress.     It  represented  a  man  taken  by  an 
angel  guide,  through  the  air,  all  over  the  world,  to 
show  him  the  condition  of  things.     In  passing  over 
London,  he  noticed  that  there  was  but  one  devil  in 
all  the  city,  and  he  spent  the  most  of  his  time  asleep 
in  an  old  abandoned  storehouse,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Thames.     But  a  little  beyond  the  city,  in  the  coun- 
try, he  found  an  old  man  plowing  in  the  field  with  a 
span  of   holies,  and   there  were  seven  devils  busy 
around   him.      Some   were  teasing   the    horses   bV 
punching  them  with  sharp  sticks,  making  them  kick 
over  the  traces;  others  were  at  their  heads,  making 
them  balk  ;  others  were  at  the  old  man's  ears,  speak- 
ing blasphemous  words  for  him  to  use,  and  others 
were  at  his  hands  endeavoring  to  move  them  to 
strike    the    frantic   horses.     The   air  traveler    was 
astonished,  paused  in  his  flight,  and  asked  his  angel 
guide  to  explain  to  him  why  there  was  but  one  devil 
in  all  London,  and  he  was  idle;  but  here  was  an 
old  man  with  seven  devils  tormenting  him.     The 
angel  replied,  "  London  is  a  very  wicked  city.     They 
are  under  the  devil's  influence,  and  doing  his  work, 
and  Satan  only  keeps  a  sentinel  there  to  see  that  all 
goes  on  according  to  his  wishes.     But  the  old  man 
is  a  Christian,  near  his  end,  and  seven  devils  are 
making  a  mighty  effort  to  inflame  his  anger,  or  in 
some  way  to  incite  him  to  sin,  or  he  will  soon  be  in 

heaven,  bevond  their  reach.     But  let  some  revival 

21 


322       Beriiiniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

preacher  in  London  arouse  the  churches  to  take  hold 
of  God's  work,  and  ten  thousand  devils  would 
instantly  be  summoned  to  oppose  the  work."  So  the 
Universalists  are  never  active  until  a  revival  begins, 
then  they  are  all  alert  to  prevent  it  as  far  as  they 
can.  But  the  work  got  beyond  them  in  Malone. 
They  could  not  rally  "  a  corporal's  guard "  during 
the  revival,  and  after  two  or  three  attempts  to  get  a 
congregation,  gave  it  up,  and  the  most  of  them  were 
converted  as  the  meeting  progressed. 

The  people  of  that  town  were  great  church  goers. 
I  have  had  a  wide  observation  of  the  church  going 
habits  of  people  in  many  sections  of  the  country, 
but  never  found  any  other  town  that  excelled  Malone 
in  this  respect.  It  was  a  charming  sight,  on  a  plea- 
sant Sabbath  morning,  to  see  the  streams  of  humanity 
coming  down  the  hills  and  along  the  valleys,  from 
farms  and  hamlets,  wending  tlieir  way  to  the  house 
of  God.  It  illustrated  the  statement  of  the  royal 
psalmist,  "  Whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of 
the  Lord,  unto  the  testimony  of  Israel,  to  give 
thanks  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord ; "  and  answered 
his  description  of  the  gatherings  in  the  Temple — 
"'  The  singers  went  before,  the  players  on  instruments 
followed  after :  among  them  were  the  damsels  play- 
ing with  timbrels— Bless  ye  God  in  the  congrega- 
tions, even  the  Lord  from  the  fountain  of  Israel. 
There  is  little  Benjamin,  with  their  ruler,  the  princes 
of  Judah  and  their  counsel,  the  princes  of  Zebulun, 
and  the  princes  of  Xaphthali.  Thy  God  hath  com- 
manded thy  strength." 


Manniiuj  the  Fort  for  the  Battle,  323 

In  the  services  of  the  sanctuary  all  the  tribes  took 
a  part.  The  singers,  the  players  on  instruments  and 
all  the  tribes  composed  the  congregation.  Four  sec- 
tions of  the  tribes  are  mentioned  as  including  the 
whole.  -'  There  is  little  Benjamin,  with  their  ruler, 
and  princes  of  Judah,  with  their  counsel."  The 
tribe  of  Benjamin  belonged  to  the  house  of  Saul, 
and  had  been  partisans  in  his  interest.  The  tribe  of 
Judah  was  of  the  house  of  David,  and  defended 
him  againsts  the  encroachments  of  Benjamin.  But 
all  animosities  were  now  laid  aside,  and  they  vie 
with  each  other  in  the  worship  of  God.  There  also 
are  Zebulun  and  Xaphtali.  These  tribes  inhabited 
the  extremities  of  the  Holy  Land,  yet  they  were  as 
zealous  as  Benjamin  and  Judah,  who  were  nearest 
the  Temple,  to  join  in  the  worship  of  God. 

These  two  tribes,  though  living  remote  from  Jeru- 
salem, brought  up  a  very  large  company,  because 
"  God  had  coinmayided  their  strength T 

Thus  the  good  people  of  Malone  came  from  far 
and  near  "  to  worship  in  His  Holy  TernpleP  Every 
church  was  usually  crowded,  because  ''God  had 
commanded  their  strength."  •  Those  from  a  distance 
brought  the  largest  loads,  and  were  usually  among 
the  first  at  the  church.  I  have  often  held  up  the 
custom  of  that  town  as  an  example  for  othei*  com- 
munities to  follow. 


324       Reminiscences  of  Earlxj  Circuit  Life. 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array. 


325 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

SEITING    THE    BATTLE    IN    xVRRAY. 

ip^/'IfEN  I  came  to  this  meeting,  I  was  not  a 
^jf  stranger  among  them.  My  boyhood  home 
had  been  in  Fort  Covington,  only  fourteen 
miles  distant,  and  I  had  been  accustomed  to  meet 
many  of  the  members  from  this  place  at  the  quar- 
terly meetings  of  the  circuit. 

Camp-meetings  were  often  held  in  that  town,  and 
I  was  in  the  habit  of  attending  them.  My  first 
public  exhortation,  outside  of  our  owm  village,  was 
given  in  one  of  these  meetings,  when  I  was  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  under  circumstances  particu- 
larly trying  to  myself.  One  evening,  Brother  Pad- 
dock, the  Presiding  Elder,  sent  for  me  to  come  to 
the  stand,  and  directed  me  to  exhort  after  the  ser- 
mon. I  told  him  that  I  could  not  do  it,  but  he  per- 
sisted in  the  requirement.  The  thought  of  attempt- 
ing it  frightened  me  terribly.  I  sat  and  wept,  and 
trembled  like  an  aspen  leaf.  My  fears  overpowered 
me,  and  while  the  minister  was  preaching,  I  slipped 
from  my  seat  unobserved,  ran  to  the  tent,  and  hid 
under  a  bed,  and  at  the  close  of  the  sermon  was  not 
to  be  found.     But  the  elder  was  not  to  be  thwarted 


in  his  design.  It  was  his  plan  to  sing  a  hymn  after 
the  sermon,  during  which  two  of  the  preachers  were 
to  put  a  wide  plank  on  some  sap  tubs,  as  a  platform 
to  raise  me  above  the  book  board,  high  enough  to 
be  seen  and  heard  by  the  people.  While  they  were 
doing  this,  he  sent  two  brethren  to  bring  me  back. 
They  would  have  been  fruitless  in  their  search,  only 
that  one  of  the  sisters  had  marked  my  retreat,  and 
pointed  it  out  to  the  men.  They  drew  me  from  my 
hiding-place,  and  took  me  shaking  and  sobbing  to 
the  stand.  The  elder  took  me  in  his  arms,  and 
soothed  me  as  a  father,  sat  me  upon  the  plank,  and 
comforted  me  as  they  sang  the  last  stanza  of  the 
hymn.  When  the  people  were  seated.  Brother 
Paddock  said,  "  Xow,  James,  put  your  trust  in  the 
Lord,  and  He  will  help  you."  And  he  did  hdp  me, 
for  in  a  few  minutes  my  fears  were  gone,  and  God 
gave  me  liberty  in  beseeching  men  to  be  reconciled 
to  Him. 

They  would  not  let  me  down  from  the  plank  until 
I  had  invited  the  mourners  into  the  prayer  ring. 
They  came  with  broken  hearts  and  contrite  spirits. 
How  much  their  sympathy  with  the  pleading  boy 
had  to  do  with  it,  I  never  knew ;  but  God  overruled 
this  indiscreet  venture  for  good,  and  many  were 
saved  in  that,  to  me,  memorable  night. 

I  not  only  gave  my  first  public  exhortation  in 
Malone,  but  preached  my  first  sermon  there.  A 
few  days  after  being  licensed  as  a  local  preacher,  I 
attended  a  camjvmeeting  in  that  town,  and  was 
called  upon  to  preach,  which  I  endeavored  to  do  in 


ittii 


V 


320       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

the  name  of  the  Lord.  We  had  a  new  Presidino- 
Elder  on  the  district,  Rev.  S.  Chase,  a  firm,  decided 
man,  and  I  had  not  tlie  courage  to  refuse,  so  I  took 
for  a  text  the  precious  words  of  the  Saviour :  "  Come 
unto  me  all  ve  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest."  The  elder  exhorted  after  me, 
and  so  covered  my  retreat. 

The  members  of  our  church  were  an  earnest, 
spiritual  class  of  people  well  adapted  to  revival 
work,  and  "of  good  report  of  them  which  were 
without."  Like  most  of  the  Methodists  of  that  dav 
they  were  good  singers,  and  sang  as  "lustily"  as 
they  prayed.  Take  one  of  Charles  Wesley's  experi- 
mental hymns  sung  in  "Exhortation,"  "Majesty," 
"  Ocean,"  or  any  of  the  old  tunes,  with  all  the  four 
parts  well  sustained,  as  the  Malone  Methodists  could 
sing  them,  and  it  would  bear  the  soul  onward  and 
upward  in  its  celestial  flight.  Indeed  their  singing 
was  an  arm  of  strength  in  the  revival.  Many  a 
struggling  soul  escaped  from  the  snare  of  the  devil 
in  these  bursts  of  song,  and  joined  in  rapturous 
praise. 

Our  meeting  was  held  in  the  Court  House.  It 
was  a  large  commodious  building,  and  would  seat 
more  people  than  any  church  in  the  village ;  when 
fully  packed  it  presented  an  imposing  appearance. 
The  audience  rising  on  each  side  in  the  form  of  an 
amphitheater,  looked  to  the  speaker  like  a  sea  of 
anxious  faces.  The  box  or  desk  where  the  judge 
presided  in  the  court,  was  the  pulpit,  and  a  seat 
behind  it  would  accommodate  six  or  eight  preachers, 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array. 


327 


and  the  large  square  in  front  where  the  lawyei^, 
reporters,  and  witnesses  were  accustomed  to  sit,  was 
occupied  by  the  earnest  men  and  godly  women  who 
led  in  prayer  and  were  helpers  in  the  work.  It  was 
also  used  as  a  mourner's  bench,  where  "seekers" 
bowed  in  prayer,  and  were  counseled  and  helped  into 
the  kingdom.  The  building  itself  was  unchurch- 
like,  but  as  a  large,  plain  tabernacle  it  met  our  neces- 
sity, and  answered  our  purposes  in  carrying  on  the 
work  of  the  I^rd.  We  proved  the  truth  of  God's 
word  that,  "  In  all  places  where  I  record  my  name, 
there  will  I  come  unto  thee,  and  I  will  bless  thee." 
How  often  the  "  Shekina  cloud  "  filled  the  place,  and 
it  was  truly  "the  house  of  God,  and  the  gate  of 
heaven." 

The  old  temple  was.  never  more  filled  with  the 
Divine  glory,  "  when  His  train  filled  it,"  and  flaming 
seraphims  cried  one  to  another,  saying,  "Holy, 
Holy,  Holy  is  the  Lord  of  Hosts,"  than  was  this 
court-house,   when   God    so   wonderfully  answei-ed 

ft/ 

prayer  in  the  salvation  of  hundreds  of  souls. 

We  held  three  meetings  a  day,  as  a  general  thing. 
The  morning  meetings  were  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church,  the  establishing  of  converts,  and  for  instruct- 
ing penitents  in  the  way  of  faith,  and  they  were 
usually  seasons  of  wonderful  power.  What  search- 
ings  of  heart,  what  lamentations  over  shortcomings, 
what  confessions  to  God  and  each  other,  what  vic- 
tories over  self  and  unbelief,  what  consecration  to 
the  work,  and  what  overwhelming  baptisms  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.     What  happy  converts,  clear  in  the 


328       Beminiscenises  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

witness  of  the  spirit,  and  strengthened  for  the  work, 
and  penitents  newly  translated  into  Christ's  king- 
dom and  made  partakers  of  the  divine  nature. 

Such  meetings  are  essential  to  the  success  of  a 
great  revival.  As  the  busy  workmen  in  the  harvest 
fields  grind  their  scythes  every  morning  to  cut  down 
the  waving  grass  and  golden  grain,  so  God's  work- 
men need  sharp  instruments  in  the  harvest  fields  of 
the  church,  and  He  makes  good  His  promise  to  his 
diligent  workmen,  "  Behold  I  will  make  thee  a  new, 
sharp,  threshing  instrument  having  teeth  :  thou  shalt 
thrash  the  mountains,  and  beat  them  small,  and 
shalt  make  the  hills  as  chaff."  Let  a  hundred  men 
and  women  go  out  with  the  girdings  of  the  spirit 
into  the  white  harvest  fields  of  the  church,  each 
^ith  a  heaven  bestowed  "sharp  instrument  having 
teeth,"  and  they  will  soon  sing  the  "  harvest  home  " 
over  well  filled  granaries  and  abundant  supplies. 

We  always  had  preaching  in  the  afternoon,  fol- 
lowed by  a  prayer-rneeting.  The  meeting  com- 
menced at  2  p.  M.,  and  was  intended  to  continue  two 
hours  and  a  half,  but  as  the  revival  increased,  and 
the  number  of  penitents  multiplied,  they  would 
often  hold  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  sometimes, 
such  was  the  intensity  of  feeling  among  the  seekers, 
that  we  could  not  close  at  all,  but  continued  until  the 
evening  service,  some  going  home  to  a  hasty  supper, 
and  then  returning  to  relieve  others.  We  could  not 
leave  a  company  of  men  and  women  in  an  agony  of 
spirit,  crying  for  mercy.  The  evening  sprvice  was 
on  many  accounts  the  most  important  of  the  day. 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array. 


329 


Many  who  were  necessarily  engaged  in  the  day- 
time, could  come  in  at  that  hour,  and  the  house 
would  be  crowded  with  people,  numbers  of  whom 
were  unsaved.  The  sermon  in  the  evening  was 
usually  addressed  to  the  unconverted,  and  strong 
efforts  made  to  convince,  convict,  and  persuade  them 
to  "  fly  from  the  wrath  to  come."  The  sermon  was 
always  followed  by  a  rousing  exhortation,  and 
seekers  invited  to  the  mourner's  bench.  Then  one, 
two,  three  hours  were  spent  in  united,  earnest 
prayer,  singing,  and  giving  instruction  to  the  peni- 
tents. 

In  those  days  the  seasons  of  prayer  were  not 
stinted,  or  regulated  by  rule;  one  would  continue 
half  or  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  as  circumstances 
might  demand ;  and  their  prayers  were  not  whis- 
pered breathings,  but  strong  cryings  unto  God.  It 
was  always  my  own  taste  to  have  one  leading  voice 
heard  in  prayer ;  but  Brother  Dunning  urged  that 
we  were  addressing  God,  not  man,  and  He  heard  the 
cry  of  every  heart  around  the  altar,  as  He  would  if 
an  hundred  different  closets  were  pleading  for  His 
grace.  That  the  Divine  influence,  given  in  answer 
to  these  united  supplications,  gave  to  them  fervor 
and  faith,  and  so  he  would  often  direct  that  every 
voice  should  pray  in  faith,  as  if  we  were  miles  apart. 
Waves  of  power  would  roll  over  the  assembly,  and 
many  be  converted  in  these  great  struggles.  As  we 
rose  to  sing,  you  would  find  that  the  mourning  of 
many  was  turned  to  rejoicing,  and  with  beaming 
faces  they  would  join  in  the  hymn — 


330       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


II ) 


Tis  done,  the  great  transaction's  done, 
lam  my  Lord's,  and  He  is  mine.'' 

Brother  Dunning  had  studied  his  work,  and  was 
ready  to  defend  it  in  public  and  in  private. 

I  recollect  two  ladies,  one  a  Methodist  and  the 
other  a  Congregationalist,  came  one  day  to  persuade 
him  to  regulate  the  meetings  around  the  altar,  so 
that  they  would  be  less  boisterous.  They  urged 
that  God  was  a  God  of  order,  and  not  of  confusion. 
That  He  was  not  in  the  wind,  or  the  earthquake,  or 
the  fire,  but  in  the  still,  small  voice.  Brother  D. 
took  his  Bible  and  turned  to  the  passage  saying, 
"  You  see  that  you  pervert  the  Scripture  ;  God  was 
no  more  in  the  '  still,  smaU  voice '  than  in  the  noise. 
But  as  He  passed  by,  the  wind,  earthquake,  and  fire, 
followed  in  His  train  as  His  attendants,  and  the 
prophet  knowing  God  stood  in  his  presence,  was  awed 
by  His  majesty,  as  He  demonstrated  His  power  in  the 
elements.  But  when  he  heard  the  "still,  small 
voice,"  he  recognized  it  as  the  liUle  squeaking  voice 
of  the  devil,  and  turning  away  from  it,  he  wrapped 
his  face  in  his  mantle,  went  out  and  stood  in  the 
mouth  of  the  cave,  where  God  could  speak  to  him. 
He  told  them  that  he  always  noticed  that  cold 
professors  listened  to  the  still,  small  voice  of  the 
devil,  from  which  the  prophet  of  Carmel  contemp- 
tuously  turned  away,  that  he  might  listen'  to  Him 
who  was  followed  by  the  wind,  earthquake,  and  fire. 
He  did  not  want  the  little  squeaking  voice  of  the 
devil  around  the  mourners  bench,  but  the  wind  of 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array. 


331 


the  Spirit,  the  earthquake  of  power,  and  the  fire  of 
love,  that  always  followed  God. 

If  the  women  were  not  fully  convinced,  they  were 
confounded,  and  were  among  the  wrestling  Jacobs, 
and  the  praying  Hannahs  in  the  evening,  listening 
to  the  tread  of  Jehovah  as  He  moved  along,  filling 
the  hearts  of  believing  penitents  with  His  love. 

I  took  issue  with  Brother  D.  after  the  ladies  left, 
but  he  stoutly  maintained  the  correctness  of  his 
exposition. 

Great  crowds  attended  the  meeting  from  the 
country  around.  They  came  from  Bangor,  Consta- 
bleville,  Burke,  Belmont,  and  from  "up  south." 
That  whole  section  seemed  stirred  by  the  power  of 
the  "reformation,"  and  God  moved  majestically 
among  the  people.  The  work  took  hold  of  all 
classes. 

Some  revivals  bring  in  the  young  people  mainly, 
others  an  older  class.  But  this  took  old  and  voungf, 
rich  and  poor,  learned  and  unlearned.  It  was  one 
of  God's  great  "  flood  tides,"  inundating  the  country, 
filling  the  valleys,  and  covering  the  hills ;  or,  in  the 
beautiful  language  of  the  evangelical  Prophet,  "  The 
parched  ground  shall  become  a  flood,  and  the  thirsty 
land  springs  of  water.  For  in  the  wilderness  sliall 
waters  break  out,  and  streams  in  the  desert." 

The  young  people  in  the  country,  and  the  students 
from  the  academy,  heads  of  families,  from  young 
married  people  to  hoary  hairs,  all  became  subjects 
of  the  work.  You  might  see  bowing  at  tlie  mourn- 
ers bench,  all  ages  and  classes,  from  ruddv  vouth  to 


fiMUMia 


m 


382       Iiemi7ii8cences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

bending  age,  from  the  unlettered  pioneer  to  the  cul- 
tured professor,  the  thoughtless  sinner,  and  the 
champion  infidel,  whose  cobweb  theories  had  been 
blown  away  by  the  wind  of  the  Spirit,  all  kneeling 
together  as  earnest  supplicants  for  mercy. 

The  work  continued  without  abatement  for  several 
weeks,  the  crowds  increasing  until  the  breaking 
up  of  the  roads  in  the  spring  interrupted  travel. 

The  Sabbath  crowds  were  immense.  People  came 
from  great  distances,  bringing  refreshments  with 
them,  and  spent  the  entire  day,  from  the  nine 
o'clock  love-feast  to  the  close  of  tiie  evening  service, 
in  the  court  house.  AVe  always  had  three  services 
on  the  Sabbath.  Brother  Dunning  usually  super- 
intended the  love  feast,  directed  the  class  meetings, 
preached  in  the  afternoon,  and  exhorted  after  the 
other  sermons.  He  was  a  great  worker,  and 
expected  others  to  be  as  active.  It  was  my  busi- 
ness, as  his  "  helper,"  to  preach  morning  and  even- 
ing, to  pray  at  every  opportunity  in  the  social  ser- 
vices, and  be  "chore  boy"  in  general.  I  often 
wonder  now,  in  looking  back  to  those  days,  how  we 
could  endure  such  herculean  tasks ;  but  the  answer 
comes  from  the  Bible,  '^  As  .thy  day,  so  shall  thy 
strength  be." 

The  Congregationalists  had  their  own  services  in 
the  morning  and  afternoon,  but  met  with  us  in  the 
evening,  and  the  court  house  was  packed.  It  was  a 
mass  of  breathing  humanity.  I  have  often  seen 
weeping  men  passed  over  the  shoulders  of  the  people 
to  the  mourners  bench,  and  again  and  again  I  have 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array. 


333 


walked  over  men's  shoulders,  to  pray  with  and  coun- 
sel sobbing  groups  of  penitents  in  'distant  parts  ot 
the  house. 

We  could  seldom  close  these  Sabbath  evening 
meetings  until  near  midnight,  and  then  there  was  no 
Monday  rest.  True  we  dispensed  with  the  forenoon 
service,  but  that  only  gave  the  preachers  opportunitv 
to  visit  those  who  needed  home  care,  and  invite  the 
timid  to  the  house  of  God.  The  afternoon  and 
evening  meetings  v/ent  on  as  usual,  and  were  among 
the  best  of  the  w(jek.  We  always  had  many  coif- 
versions  then.  Sunday  was  the  great  seed  sowin^r 
day,  and  on  Monday  we  gathered  the  harvest.  AU 
who  have  experience  in  revival  work,  soon  learn  the 
truth  of  the  old  adage,  '^Strike  while  the  iron  is 
hot."  We  must  work  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  who 
never  tires.  Hold  the  public  mind  to  the  one  great 
work,  and  push  the  battle  to  the  gate.  Give  the 
enemy  no  time  to  rally.  If  you  pause  for  rest,  the 
enemy  will  find  reinforcements,  and  your  own  forces 
will  become  demoralized  by  too  much  talk,  and  too 
little  prayer.  I  had  rather  have  two  weeks  of  close 
and  continued  work ;  a  face  to  face  fight  with  the 
enemy,  showing  him  no  quarter  until  the  victory 
was  gained,  than  a  two  months  skirmish,  with  rest 
daysand  evenings.  If  you  pause  for  washing  days, 
adjourn  for  a  "lecture,"  take  an  evening  now  and 
then  for  rest,  you  will  demoralize  your  forces,  o-ive 
the  devil  an  advantage,  and  unsettle  the  public 
mind. 

There  is  rest  in  a  salvation  meeting,  something- 

O-  o 


I 


334      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

quieting  in  a  Gospel  blessing,  and  pentecostal  bap- 
tism is  the  best  tonic  power. 

The  Sunday  noon  class-meetings  were  never  dis- 
pensed with  during  revival.  They  were  always 
announced  at  the  close  of  the  morning  service  as 
follows :  "  There  will  be  five  class-meetings  during 
the  intermission  in  this  room.  One  in  the  north-east 
corner,  led  by  father  Holding,  one  in  the  south-east 
corner  led  by  brother  Stephen  Paddock,  one  in  the 
south-west  corner  led  by  brother  Westcott,  one  in 
the  north-west  corner  led  by  brother  Dunning,  and 
one  in  the  '  square '  (centre)  for  the  young  people, 
led  by  brother  Erwin.  All  serious  persons  are 
invited  to  attend  whichever  one  they  choose." 

That  was  a  busy  hour,  and  one  full  of  interest. 
The  sound  of  the  voices  from  the  different  classes. 
would  at  first  be  a  little  annoying,  but  each  company 
would  soon  become  absorbed  in  the  interest  of  their 
own  meeting,  and  be  oblivious  to  all  their  surround- 
ings. We  found  the  class-meetings  in  all  our  revivals 
helpful  and  profitable.  They  meet  a  necessity  in 
Christian  experience  that  no  other  meeting  does.  A 
few  words  of  well  directed  counsel,  will  encouraere, 
regulate,  and  advance  a  soul  onward  in  its  Christian 
course,  break  the  power  of  temptation,  and  initiate 
the  converts  when  warm  in  their  first  love,  into  the 
prudential  means  of  grace  and  give  them  the  un- 
speakable benefit  of  the  riper  experience  of  more 
advanced  Christians. 

I  have  never  dispensed  with  class-meetings  during 
a  revival,  but  what  I  have  been  convinced  afterwards 


Setting  the  Battle  in  Array, 


335 


that  it  was  a  mistake,  and  that  we  had  suffered  an 
irreparable  loss.  The  evening  classes  can  be  invited 
to  meet  Avith  the  Sabbath  class  or  classes  at  the  most 
suitable  hours  ;  but  make  the  class-meetings  promi- 
nent in  the  revival,  for  it  is  the  experience  of  all,  that 
those  means  of  grace  which  administer  encourage- 
ment and  strength  in  the  beginning  of  our  Christfan 
life,  become  very  precious  to  us  as  needful  helps  on 
our  way  to  heaven. 

When  I  think  of  the  thousands  that  have  been 
instructed,  comforted  and  established  in  the  class- 
meeting,  since  St.  James  instituted  them,  that  the 
early  Christians  might  ''  confess  their  faults  one  to 
another,  and  pray  one  for  another  that  they  might  be 
healed,"  and  when  I  consider  that  since  their  revival 
by  John  Wesley  they  have  been  a  blessing  to  myriads 
who  have  kept  the  faith,  and  joined  the  white  robed 
multitudes,  who  are  singing  the  new  song  before  the 
throne,  I  want  to  say  to  my  dear  brethren,  let  us 
guard  with  zealous  care  these  old  "  land  marks,"  and 
bequeath  them  as  an  inheritance  to  posterity. 


WE 


336       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 


PRAYER  OMNIPOTENT. 


"i  LABOKED  with  Brother  Dunning  in  this  meet- 
^  ing  for  six  weeks,  and  preached  over  sixty  times. 
I  had  no  great  variety  of  sermons  when  I  went 
there,  and  being  in  the  meeting  from  ten  o'clock  in 
the  morning  most  of  the  time  until  late  at  night,  it 
may  be  asked,  when  did  you  find  time  to  make  your 
sermons,  and  what  was  your  method  of  pulpit  prep- 
aration? F4r  the  first  ten  or  twelve  years  of  my 
ministry  I  seldom  wrote  a  word  to  carry  into  the 
pulpit.  Sometimes  I  would  jot  down  the  mere  out- 
line, just  the  divisions  ^nd  subdivisions,  and  lay 
them  aside.  My  method  was,  and  I  think  this  was 
the  general  practice  of  the  Methodist  ministers  of 
that  time,  to  pray  for  our  texts  and  subjects,  and 
keep  the  mind  open  to  receive  any  suggestions  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  was  pleased  to  make.  A  text  would 
come  to  the  mind  with  as  much  force  as  if  a  person 
had  spoken  it  into  the  ear.  Sometimes  the  text 
would  be  given  when  on  our  knees  asking  for  one  ; 
at  another  time  it  would  come  to  the  soul  like  an 
inspiration,  in  a  meeting  while  some  one  was 
speaking  or  praying;   at  another  time  you  would 


Prayer  Omnipotent,  337 

wake  at  night  from  a  sound  sleep,  with  a  text  upon 
your  mind  as  if  a  voice  had  spoken  it  to  j^ou,  and 
whenever  one  was  suggested  it  was  always  accom- 
panied with  a  clear  and  satisfactory  exposition  of 
the  passage,   and    the    most  effective    manner    of 
applying  it  to  the  understanding  and  conscience  of 
the  hearers.     These  we  would  meditate  upon,  as  we 
had  opportunity,  and  pray  fervently  for  light  and 
divine  aid  in  presenting  them.     Sometimes  I  have 
gone  into  the   pulpit  without  a  text,  and  without 
knowing  a  word  that  I  could  say,  but  I  have  carried 
it  to  God,  and  said  to  Him,  '' O  my  Father,  vou 
called  me  to  be  a  witness  for  Thee ;  Thou  hast'  kept 
me  busy  in  Thy  work ;  I  have  done  the  best  I  could 
to  get  ready  for  this  hour,  but  here  I  am  without  a 
text  or  thought  for  this  people.     When  I  trembled 
in  my  weakness  and  said,  '  O  Lord  God,  behold  I  can- 
not speak,  for  I  am  a  child.'     Thou  didst  say,  '  Lo  I 
am  with  thee  always,'  '  Fear  not,  for  I  will  ^put  mv 
words  in  thy  mouth.'     I  now  cast  myself  upon  thee, 
O  give  me  a  message  for  this  people,"  and  God  never 
failed  me.     He  would  give  me  a  text,  and  the  sub- 
ject would  open  to  me  with  a  clearness  that  very 
much  surprised  me,  and  these  would  be  among  mV 
most  effective  efforts. 

Don't  understand  me  as  claiming  plenary  insi)ira- 
tion  for  God's  ministers,  but  I  do  claim  that  he  has 
promised  to  help  those  whom  He  has  called  into  His 
work,  and  that  He  will  most  faithfully  fulfill  His 
promise  to  all  who  seek  His  help,  enabling  them  to 

""  preach  the  gospel  with  the  Holv  Ghost  sent  down 

22 


.f 


|il 


338       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

from  heaven."  Has  He  not  said,  "  Go  ye  therefore 
and  teach  all  nations :  "  and  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  Has  He 
not  said,  in  speaking  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  "  He  shall 
take  of  mine,  and  show  it  unto  you."  "  He  shall 
bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I 
have  said  unto  you."  Has  He  not  said,  "  If  any 
believe  in  me,  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow  rivers  of  liv- 
ing water."  *'  This  spake  He  of  the  spirit,  that  they 
Avhich  believe  on  Him  should  receive."  All  ministers 
should  be  so  filled  with  the  spirit  that  all  who  hear 
them  should  feel,  "  that  God  is  in  them  of  a  truth." 
It  has  always  seemed  to  me  to  be  the  minister's 
duty  to  make  the  best  preparation  that  he  can  by 
reading,  meditation,  and  prayer  for  enlightenment 
and  guidance  "  Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto 
God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed, 
rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth ; "  and  then  when 
an  emergency  comes  he  can  cast  himself  upon  Christ 
with  confidence,  that  He  is  a  present  help  in  time  of 
need.  Not  like  the  Presbyterian  clergyman  who  was 
providentially  busy  aU  the  week,  and  found  himself 
on  Sunday  morning  without  preparation  for  the 
pulpit.  He  arranged  a  brief  outline  of  thought  in 
his  mind,  and  looking  to  God  for  help,  delivered  his 
message  with  great  freedom  and  enlargement.  He 
was  well  satisfied  with  his  sermon ;  and  concluded 
that  this  was  the  way  to  preach.  So  he  whiled  away 
his  time  the  next  week,  without  studv,  and  con- 
fidently  expected  great  liberty;  but  when  he  an- 
nounced his  text,  not  a  thought  would  come.     He 


Prayer  Omnipotent. 


339 


stammered  through  a  few  disconnected  sentences 
and  then  sat  down  confounded  before  the  people. 
He  said  afterwards  that  he  learned  this  lesson,  that 
"  God  helps  them  that  help  themselves,"  but  will  not 
encourage  idlei^  in  his  vineyard. 

These  weeks  were  laborious  ones.    Several  striking 
incidents  occurred  in  this  revival,  full  of  interest,  bul 
I  will  not  take  time  to  record  them,  except   two, 
illustrating  the  power  of  prayer  in  the  salvation  of 
our  friends.     Dr.  Powell  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Congregational  church,  and  greatly  interested 
in  the  meeting.     He  had  a  son  who  was  also  a  phy- 
sician,  and  a  deacon  in  that  church.     They    both 
gave  their  influence  and  efforts  to  promote  the  revi- 
val.    The  old  doctor  had  a  daughter,  a  young  lady 
of  perhaps  twenty  years  of   age,    who  was^'going 
down  to  the  grave,  slowly  and  surely,  with  pulmon- 
ary consumption.     She  was  a  young  lady  of  culture 
and  refinement.     Her  father  and  brother  were  anx- 
ious for  her  salvation.    She  hatl  long  been  the  subject 
of  prayer  and  sohcitude  on  the  part  of  her  friends, 
but  she  expressed  no  special   anxiety   for   herself. 
Either  her  father  or  brother  would  ask  prayers  for 
her  daily,  and  though  we  looked  confidently  for  her 
conversion  yet   we   were  disappointed.      The   two 
doctors   thought   her   too   feeble   to   see   company, 
except  those  who  took  care  of  her. 

The  days  were  passing,  and  the  meetings  might 
be  drawing  to  a  close,  and  yet  they  could  perceive 
no  change  in  her.  Their  anxiety  for  her  became 
intense.     At  length  they  concluded  to  risk  a  per- 


34:0       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

sonal  visit,  and  so  I  was  requested  to  call  at  her 
room,  but,  with  many  cautions  not  to  excite  her. 
Her  brother  was  to  accompany  me,  but  I  said, 
"  Doctor,  I  would  rather  see  your  sister  in  the  presence 
of  the  nurse  only.  Your  emotions  are  all  stirred, 
you  cannot  command  your  feelings,  and  your  tears 
and  solicitude  will  excite  her  more  than  my  conver- 
sation and  prayers.  I  don't  want  any  tears  and 
sobs  in  the  room.  I  shall  go  in  with  a  cheerful 
countenance,  and  a  calm,  confident  tone  of  voice, 
and  make  her  feel  that  religion  is  a  bright  and 
happy  experience,  and  not  a  gloomy,  sorrowful 
thine:.''  So  the  voun^i:  doctor  vielded  to  mv  views,  and 
I  called  on  the  sick  o-jrl.  The  interview  was  verv 
encouraging.  Instead  of  being  worse  after  the  visit, 
both  the  doctors  thouo^ht  her  better  the  next  dav.  I 
called  on  her  several  times,  by  request  of  her  friends, 
and  she  became  an  earnest  seeker  of  His  grace.  I 
was  very  anxious  to  see  her  happy  and  triumphant 
before  her  departure.  I  told  her  about  her  young- 
friends  who  had  been  converted,  and  how  ha])py 
religion  had  made  them,  and  how  earnestly  they 
prayed  that  she  might  share  in  the  same  joy ;  that 
the  dear  Saviour  was  readv  to  shed  his  love  in  her 
heart  abundantly.  She  became  very  anxious  to 
attend  one  of  the  quiet,  morning  meetings,  and  after 
some  hesitation  her  father  and  brother  consented  to 
bring  her  in  for  a  short  time.  They  brought  her  in 
an  easy  chair,  and  slipped  her  quietly  into  the  meet- 
ing, after  it  had  commenced.  It  was  a  tender, 
melting,  joyous  season,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  filled 


Prayer  Omnipotent , 


341 


her  heart,  and  made  her  a  partaker  of  the  same  joy. 
O  how  happy  she  was,  and  how  sweetly  she  told 
of  a  Saviour  found.  The  two  doctors  forgot  the 
caution  they  were  to  observe,  and  became  the  most 
excited  of  the  company,  and  no  wonder,  for  they 
shared  in  the  joy  of  the  angels.  The  dead  was 
alive,  the  lost  found.  They  bore  the  happy  girl  to 
her  room.  She  lingered  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
briglit  and  blessed  liope  of  a  glorious  immortality, 
for  several  weeks,  then  went  home  joyfully  to  meet 
the  Saviour. 

Why  will  friends  be  so  reluctant  to  have  ministers 
or  Christians  visit  the  sick,  and  talk  and  pray  with 
them  ?  They  will  excite  them  in  other  ways,  and 
think  nothing  of  it ;  but  seem  to  think  that  a  tear 
shed  for  their  sins  will  have  a  disastrous  effect.  I 
have  been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  the  sick,  as  a 
minister,  for  over  fifty  yeai^.  Have  talked  and 
prayed  with  thousands,  and  I  cannot  recall  a  single 
instance  where  even  timid  friends  have  thought  that 
the  sick  received  an  injury,  but  many  where  they 
have  been  benefited. 

A  judicious  minister  can  so  approach  the  sick  bed, 
and  administer  the  consolations  of  religion,  as  to  be 
a  great  benefit  to  the  patient,  both  physically  and 
spiritually.  Indeed,  it  is  quite  often  the  only  thing 
that  will  exhilerate  and  revive  them. 

After  long  observation,  I  have  no  hesitancy  in 
advising  aU  to  as  freely  admit  the  minister  to  the 
sick  room,  as  you  do  the  physician,  for  often  his 
visit    will   be    as    beneficial,    sometimes    more    so. 


342       Beminiscences  of  EaHy  Circuit  Life. 

Indeed,  vv^e  ought  to  be  as  ready  to  send  for  the 
minister  to  pray,  as  for  the  physician  to  prescribe. 
"  Is  any  sick  among  you,  let  him  call  for  the  elders 
of  the  church,  and  let  them  pray  over  him,  anoint- 
ing him  with  oil  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  and  the 
prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord 
sliall  raise  him  up,  and  if  he  have  committed  sins, 
they  shall  be  forgiven  him."  Many  owe  their  lives 
to  answered  prayer,  offered  in  the  sick  room.  T 
could  mention  several  instances  that  have  come 
under  my  own  observation.  Let  one  suffice.  I  was 
called  one  Sunday  evening  from  my  pulpit  in  Syra- 
cuse, in  great  haste,  to  visit  a  Mrs.  S.,  who  was 
thought  to  be  dying.  She  was  a  member  of  an 
evangelical  church,  but  feared  she  was  not  prepared 
to  die.  Her  pastor  had  visited  her,  but  did  not  meet 
her  case.  A  council  of  doctors  had  decided  that 
she  could  not  survive  the  night,  and  she  requested 
them  to  send  for  me  to  pray  with  her.  I  came  to 
the  house  and  found  the  familv  m'eatlv  excited. 
The  husband  came  into  the  parlor,  where  I  was 
seated.  He  was  not  a  Christian,  and  therefore  a 
stranger  to  the  soothing  influence  of  prayer.  He 
said  that  his  wife  was  verv  low,  that  a  council  of  the 
best  doctoi^  of  the  citv  had  decided  not  more  than 

ft/ 

an  hour  ago  that  she  could  not  live  through  the 
night ;  indeed,  they  considered  her  dying  then.  She 
was  greatly  excited,  they  were  trying  to  keep  her 
quiet,  and  any  religious  services  in  her  room  would 
so  excite  her  as  to  produce  instant  death.  I  told 
him  that  his  wife  was  anxious  to  have  prayer. offered 


Prayer  Omnipotent. 


343 


in  her  behalf,  and  she  could  not  be  quieted  until  her 
request  was  gratified.  I  was  confident  that  I  could 
soothe  and  help  her.  He  called  in  her  parents,  who 
also  were  devoted  members  of  the  church,  and 
among  the  most  influential  families  of  the  city, 
hoping  that  they  could  convince  me  that  it  was  not 
best  for  me  to  see  their  daughter.  But  they  took 
the  same  view  of  the  case  that  I  did  ;  said  that  their 
daughter  was  constantly  inquiring  if  I  had  come, 
and  believed  that  my  visit  would  calm  and  satisfy 
her.  But  her  husband  was  decided,  and  would  not 
consent  to  have*me  go  into  the  sick  room.  I  said  to 
him,  "  See  here,  Mr.  S.,  you  believe  your  wife  to  be 
dying;  the  doctors  say  that  she  will  die  to-night, 
probably  before  midnight,  and  it  only  lacks  three 
hours  of  that  time  now.  She  feels  that  she  is  not 
ready  and  needs  Christian  counsel  and  prayer.  I 
am  confident  it  will  help  her.  Kow,  I  propose 
that  we  go  together  into  her  room.  You  be  seated 
on  the  side  of  her  bed ;  I  will  occupy  a  chair  in 
front.  If  vou  think  that  mv  conversation  excites 
her,  just  touch  my  foot  with  yours,  and  I  will  leave 
the  room.'' 

This  proposition  seemed  reasonable,  and  he  as- 
sented to  it.  I  found  Mrs.  S.  nervously  unstrung, 
and  greatly  excited.  She  said,  "  Mr.  Erwin,  I  am 
dying,  and  I  am  not  prepared  to  meet  God.  I  want 
you  to  pray  that  I  may  be  saved."  She  urged  me  to 
kneel  at  her  bedside,  and  pray  immediately.  I  said 
to  her  "  We  are  not  quite  ready  to  pray  yet.  I  want 
to  sav  a  few  words  to  you  about  the  dear  Saviour, 

ft.'  «,'  7 


i  ii 


844       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

and  how  your  faith  may  accept  Him  as  your  atoning 
sacrifice,  and  rest  in  His  merits.  I  want  you  to  hear 
me  calmly,  and  receive  my  instructions,  and  then  we 
will  come  to  the  mercy  seat,  confidently  believing 
that  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  will  hear  the  prayer/' 

She  listened  to  me  quietly,  and  eagerly  drank  in 
every  word.  AVhen  I  saw  that  her  mind  was 
diverted  from  death,  and  fixed  upon  Christ  as  the 
only  Saviour,  and  her  faith  was  ready  to  accept 
Him  in  His  saving  mercy,  I  said  to  her,  *'  Now  we 
will  join  in  a  quiet,  earnest  praj^er,  asking  this  pre- 
cious Saviour,  by  His  Holy  Spirit,  to  reveal  Himself 
in  your  heart,  as  the  "  Mighty  to  save."  And  O  how 
sweetly  God  did  bless  that  feeble,  but  trusting 
woman.  There  was  no  excitement,  but  ''all  the 
silent  heaven  of  love."  Her  restlessness  was  quieted. 
Her  frantic  cries  were  hushed,  and  she  lay  in  adoring 
bliss.  ^ 

When  I  arose  to  leave,  she  begged  me  to  remain 
until  Jesus  took  her  home.  I  said,  "  I  will  come  and 
see  you  in  the  morning."  But  she  said,  "  You  know 
that  I  am  to  die  to-night."  I  replied,  ''  I  am  confi- 
dent you  will  be  here  in  the  morning,  and  I  will  see 
you  at  nine  o'clock.  I  want  you  to  sleep  quietly, 
and  have  no  one  in  your  room  but  the  nurse.  You 
can  praise  God  when  awake,  but  you  need  rest.  It 
is  said  in  the  Bible,  that  'He  giveth  His  beloved 
sleep.' " 

I  found  the  attending  physician  at  the  house  when 
I  called  in  the  morning.  He  was  amazed  to  find  his 
patient  alive,  and  was    ready  to  pronounce   it  a 


Prayer  Omnipotent, 


345 


miracle.  I  said,  "Xo,  it  is  simply  an  answer  to 
prayer.  He  has  spared  this  life  for  some  good  work." 
Twenty-two  years  afterward  that  lady  called  upon 
me.  She  had  buried  her  husband,  all  of  her  chil- 
dren, and  bid  fair  for  vears  of  active  service.  For 
aught  I  know  she  is  living  yet.  H  her  eye  catches 
this  paragraph,  I  am  sure  it  will  awaken  in  her 
heart,  gratitude  to  the  answerer  of  prayer. 

When  persons  are  sick,  a  physician  is  very  pro- 
perly sent  for,  but  no  notice  is  given  the  minister. 
The  family  wonder  that  he  does  not  call.  After 
awhile  they  become  greatly  afflicted  at  his  neglect. 
In  the  mean  time  the  minister  knows  nothing  of  the 
aftliction  of  the  family,  or,  if  he  accidentally  hears 
of  it,  feels  a  delicacy  in  calling,  fearing,  as  he  has 
heard  nothing  from  the  family,  that  a  visit  might 
not  be  desirable.  He  does  not  wish  to  obtrude  him- 
self when  not  wanted;  and  on  the  other  hand, 
wishing  to  do  his  full  duty,  he  becomes  perplexed 
and  embarrassed ;  when  a  note,  or  verbal  message, 
from  the  afflicted  family,  would  relieve  the  case,  and 
open  the  way  for  a  visit. 

It  is  said  of  the  late  Bishop  Clark,  before  his 
elevation  to  the  Episcopacy,  Avhile  a  pastor,  that 
meeting  a  lady  on  the  street  one  day,  who  was  a 
member  of  his  church,  she  said,  "  O  doctor,  I  have 
been  very  ill ;  I  thought  myself  near  the  river  and 
needed  your  counsels  and  prayers  very  much,  and 
you  never  called  to  see  me  during  my  sickness." 

The  doctor  replied,  "  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  of 
your  affliction.     Did  you  have  a  physician  ? "     "  O 


346       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

yes;  he  visited  me  every  day,  sometimes  twice  a 
day."  "  Ah !  indeed ;  and  how  did  the  doctor  learn 
of  your  sickness  V  "  O  we  sent  for  him  immediately 
after  I  was  taken  ill."  •'  Well,  sister,  if  you  had  noti- 
fied me,  as  your  pastor,  as  you  did  the  physician,  of 
your  sickness,  it  would  have  given  me  pleasure  to 
have  called  repeatedly;  but  this  is  the  first  know- 
ledge I  have  had  of  your  illness."  The  lady  apolo- 
gized, and  said,  "  Hereafter,  when  I  am  sick,  I  will 
notify  my  minister,  that  I  may  have  his  prayers  and 
sympathy." 


Gor/'i^  S:freiu/fh  in  Human    Weahiess.       347 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


OOI)  S  STRENGTH  IN  HUMAN  WEAKNESS. 


MOXG  those  who  came  to  the  meeting  from  a 
l^^  distance  was  a  Mr.  Wilson  from  Bangor,  some 
six  or  seven  miles  away.  He  was  an  influen- 
tial farmer,  a  leading  man  of  that  town,  and  a  great 
opposer  of  religion.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  our 
church  there,  a  woman  of  deep  piety,  gifted,  intelli- 
gent, and  an  earnest  and  successful  worker  in  the 
cause.  She  conducted  family  prayer,  took  an  active 
part  in  religious  meetings  and  lived  a  consistent, 
holy  life,  notwithstanding  the  opposition,  and  bitter 
persecution  of  her  husband.  She  had  long  prayed 
for  him,  and  God  had  given  her  the  witness  that  she 
should  see  his  salvation. 

He  heard  of  the  meeting  in  Malone,  and  his  curi- 
osity prompted  him  to  attend.  A  very  devotetl 
Christian  girl  lived  in  his  family,  and  he  took  her 
with  him  to  the  meetings  night  after  night,  because 
it  gave  him  an  apology  for  attending.  All  who 
knew  him  were  surprised,  but  he  turned  it  off  by 


saymg 


u 


Mv 


o'irl 


IS 


a    faithful    servant,   and   to 


gratify  her,  I  bring  her  to  the  meeting."    He  "  gave 
earnest  heed  to  the  things  that  were  spoken,"  and 


348       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

was  a  careful  observer  of  everj^thing  tliat  was  pass- 
ing around  him.  But  knowing  the  character  of  the 
man,  no  one  ventured  to  approach  him  on  the  subjecct 
of  religion  for  several  evenings.  His  case  began  to 
trouble  me,- and  I  felt  that  some  one  ought  to  speak 
to  him  about  the  interest  of  his  soul.  One  evening 
during  the  sermon  I  was  struck  with  his  restlessness', 
the  changing  of  his  countenance,  and  his  apparent 
effort  to  conceal  his  emotions.  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  striving  with  him,  and  that 
he  was  troubled  on  account  of  his  sins.  When 
seekers  were  invited  to  the  mourners  bench,  I 
went  to  him  and  said,  "  Mr.  Wilson  don't  you  feel 
the  need  of  religion  ? "  He  answered  promptly  "  I 
do.''  I  gave  him  my  hand  and  invited  him  to  go 
forward  for  prayers.  He  arose  immediately  and 
literally  ran  down  the  aisle,  throwing  himself  upon 
his  knees  among  the  penitents.  We  counseled  and 
prayed  for  him.  He  seemed  in  deep  despair ;  not  a 
tear  fell  from  his  eyes  nor  a  word  from  his  lips,  but 
his  soul  was  burdened  with  guilt.  About  ten  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  as  I  was  praying  with  another  group 
beyond  him,  he  beckoned  me  to  come  to  him,  and 
said,  "  This  is  not  the  place  for  me  now ;  I  have 
another  duty  to  do.  I  have  abused  my  praying  wife 
by  opposing  her,  and  my  first  duty  is  to  make  con- 
fession, and  ask  her  forgiveness.  Can  you  tell  the 
girl  that  we  must  go  home?*'  I  told  him  to  go  to 
the  hotel  for  his  horses,  and  the  girl  would  be  ready. 
They  went  home  in  silence.  Sister  Wilson  was  still 
up,  though  it  was  midnight.     She  had   spent  the 


a««^t.,««^..^a,aiaii^,„ji^ 


GocVs  Strength  in  Iluiuan    Weakness.       349 

night  in  wrestling  prayer  for  her  husband  and  was 
not  surprised  when  he  came  home  a  penitent  man. 
He  came  into  the  house  and  fell  upon  his  knees 
before  her,  confessing  his  great  wickedness  in  pei^e- 
cuting  her  as  he  had  done,  and  earnestly  and  peni- 
tently implored  her  forgiveness.  He  called  all  his 
children  from  their  beds,  got  down  on  his  knees 
before  them,  and  begged  them  to  forgive  their  poor 
wicked  father,  who  had  neglected  to  bring  them  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  He  irot 
the  Bible,  read  a  chapter,  then  bowing  with  them, 
offered  his  first  prayer  at  the  head  of  his  family,  and 
begged  his  wife  to  pray  for  his  salvation.  It  was  a 
memorable  night  to  that  family ;  the  beginning  of  a 
new  life.  He  brought  his  wife,  older  children  and 
faithful  girl  the  next  evening  to  the  meeting,  and 
our  covenant-keeping  God  heard  and  answered 
prayer  in  his  salvation.  Thev  went  home  that  niirht 
a  happy  family  ;  songs  of  praise  rose  from  that 
sleigh,  arousing  the  wondering  sleepers  along  the 
way ;  for  the  "  dead  was  alive,  the  lost  found." 

The  work  went  on  with  power  spreading  in  every 
direction.  The  cross  won  new  trophies  every  day, 
''  and  many  \vere  added  to  the  Lord." 

The  following  Sunday  was  a  memorable  day.  The 
revival  was  at  its  flood  tide,  and  multitudes  were  in 
the  current.  The  crowd  was  immense  and  the 
feelings  of  the  people  were  up  to-  the  highest  pitch. 
All  who  came  into  the  place  said  a  solemn  awe  came 
over  them ;  they  ''  stood  on  holy  ground."  Brother 
Dunning  was  pushing  on  the  victory.     His  battle 


350       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

cry  was  "  The  country  for  Jesus."  He  was  anxious 
that  I  should  preach  in  the  evening  on  the  text  in 
Kevelations,  "  For  the  great  clay  of  his  wrath  is  come ; 
and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand  V  He  had  a  passion 
for  such  texts,  and  used  to  make  them  ring  on  the 
consciences  of  his  hearers  with  tremendous  effect. 
We  prayed  over  it  in  our  room  on  Saturday  night 
before  we  retired,  and  again  on  rising  Sunday  morn- 
ing. I  told  him  I  would  try  it  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  if  he  would  pray  mightily  w^hile  I  preached. 
I  drew  a  brief  outline  in  my  mind,  and  asked  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  speak  through  me.  At  the  proper 
time  I  began  with  fear  and  trembling,  but  as  I  ad- 
vanced, God  lifted  me  above  fear  and  gave  me  w^ords 
and  thoughts  beyond  my  ability,  making  the  word 
"  mighty  and  lively "  as  it  is  rendered  in  the  old 
English  Bible ;  and  "  sharper  than  a  two  edged 
sword,  piercing  soul  and  spirit."  It  was  thought  by 
the  brethren  that  at  least  five  hundred  penitents 
bowed  that  night  in  prayer,  and  it  was  past  mid- 
night before  the  meeting  could  be  brought  to  a 
close. 

This  long,  loud,  and  frequent  preaching  began  to 
tell  fearfully  upon  my  frail  constitution.  On  Mon- 
day I  kept  my  bed  through  the  day,  but  attended 
meeting  in  the  evening,  taking  but  little  part.  Dr. 
Conant  with  whom  Brother  Dunning  and  myself 
boarded,  took  me  under  his  care  and  forbade  me  to 
take  any  part  in  the  meetings.  I  preached,  however, 
twice  during  the  week.  As  the  Sabbath  approached 
Bro.  Dunning  thought  I  might  venture  to  preach  Sun- 


God^s  Strength  in  Human   Weakness,      351 

day  evening.  The  doctor  protested  against  it,  saying 
if  I  did,  it  would  be  at  the  peril  of  my  life.  As  the 
evening  drew  near  Bro.  D.  became  very  urgent ;  he 
insisted  that  God  would  take  care  of  me,  that  it  was 
his  work,  I  had  got  hold  of  the  people  and  he  would 
support  me,  etc.  I  w^ent  into  the  pulpit  with  him 
undecided.  I  was  very  fond  of  the  tune  Majesty, 
It  would  thrill  and  exhilerate  me ;  and  he  knowing 
my  weakness  gave  out  the  hymn  beginning, 

"  Jesus  !  the  name  high  over  all, 
In  hell,  or  earth,  or  sky  ; 
Angels  and  men  before  it  fall. 
And  devils  fear  and  fly." 

and  asked  them  to  sing  Majesty.     The  last  three 

verses  decided  me.     What  is  life  in  comparison  to 

souls. 

'*  Happy,  if  with  my  latest  breath 

I  may  but  gasp  His  name ; 

Preach  Him  to  all,  and  cry  in  death, 

Behold,  behold  the  Lamb !  " 

At  the  close  of  the  hymn  I  arose  and  announced 
my  text :  "  And  thou  mourn  at  the  last,  when  thy 
flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed,  and  say,  How  have 
I  hated  instruction,  and  my  heart  despised  reproof ; 
and  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  my  teachers,  nor 
inclined  mine  ear  to  them  that  instructed  me!" 
Prov.  5-11-13. 

The  subject  was,  "  TJi^  terrible  end  of  a  missjpent 
life,''''  I  began  with  the  first  question  in  the  old 
Westminster  Catechism,  "  What  is  the  chief  end  of 
man  ?"    '^  It  is  to  glorify  God,  and  enjoy  him  forever." 


352       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


God  made  man  for  happiness ;  never  intended  him 
for  misery ;  endowed  him  with  reason  and  inteUi- 
gence ;  opened  sources  of  happiness  before  him,  and 
made  him  capable  of  choosing  good  or  evil.  Fatal- 
ism is  an  error,  dishonorable  to  God.  Universahsm 
is  a  lie,  damning  to  man.  We  are  responsible  for 
the  choice  we  make.  If  we  pursue  the  right,  it 
leads  to  happiness  and  heaven.  If  we  pursue  the 
wrong,  it  leads  to  misery  and  perdition. 

The  text  contemplates  men  living  in  sin.  The 
worldling  starts  with  bright  hopes,  but  ends  in 
despair.  The  voluptuous  revel  in  the  sunshine,  but 
sink  in  "the  blackness  of  darkness  forever."  The 
ambitious  bask  in  the  honors  and  pleasures  of  life, 
but  lie  down  in  disappointment  and  ruin.  The  pro- 
fligate, abandoned  to  vice,  lost  to  principle,  dying  in 
despair,  is  illustrated  by  the  dying  libertine,  who 
speechless  and  despairing,  wrote  on  a  slip  of  paper, 
"  Kemorse,"  and  with  horror  in  his  countenance  sank 
back  upon  his  pillow  dead. 

Neglectors  of  salvation^  you  may  be  moral,  rich, 
cultured,  respected,  but  you  cannot  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell. 

Backdiders^  you  have  rejected  Christ ;  crucified 
Him  afresh ;  as  if  it  was  not  enough  for  the  Jews  to 
hang  Him  to  the  cross,  you  must  drive  the  nails,  and 
make  Him  bleed  afresh.  Your  hand  must  thrust 
the  spear,  and  pierce  His  heart. 

Lukewann  profest^or,  you  have  a  name  to  live  and 
are  dead.  You  profess  to  represent  Christ,  but  in 
life  deny  Him.     You  claim  to  be  His  witness,  but 


GoWs  Strength  in  Human    Weaknesi<.       353 

jour  testimony  is  against  Him.  You  teach  men  the 
way  to  heaven,  but  they  are  stumbling  over  you  into 
hell:  You  can  all  abandon  evil  and  choose  the  more 
excellent  way.  But  choosing  evil,  and  living  in  sin, 
mark  the  final  results,  "Thou  shalt  mourn  at  the 
last  day." 

There  will  be  mourning  at  the  last.  You  will 
mourn  for  your  folly,  grieve  for  your  loss,  bewail 
your  ruin.  There  will  be  bitter  lamentation ;  "  How 
have  I  hated  instruction,"  etc.  God's  Bible  was  put 
into  my  hands,  but  I  neglected  it.  God's  ministers 
pointed  out  the  way  for  my  feet,  but  I  turned 
from  it.  I  hated  their  instructions,  and  despised 
their  reproof.  *  God's  people  besought  me  earnestly 
to  forsake  sin,  and  turn  to  Christ.  I  have  seen  their 
tears,  and  heard  their  prayers,  but  my  heart  despised 
reproof ;  now  I  mourn  when  it  is  too  late. 

But  stop  sinner.  Dry  up  your  tears,  cease  your 
lamentations ;  you  are  not  yet  tossing  on  a  sick  bed. 
The  flames  of  hell  are  not  yet  burning  you.  I  am 
sent  from  the  borders  of  the  grave  to  help  you.  I 
come  in  the  name  of  God  to  lead  you  to  the  cross, 
to  the  open  fountain,  to  wash  away  your  sins.  To- 
night make  readv  for  a  life  of  usefulness,  a  death  of 
happiness,  and  a  home  in  heaven. 

Instead  of  mourning  at  the  last,  you  ma}^  meet 

death   with    joy,  for  "the  righteous  have  hope  in 

their  death "  and  thev  who  die   in   the   Lord  are 

blessed.     Through  the  merits  of  the  crucified  One, 

you  may  shout  when  "  heart  and  flesh  are  failing," 

"  to  die  is  o^ain." 

23 


354       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

Here  my  strength  failed,  and  I  attempted  to  sit 
down,  but   Brother  Dunning   pushed  me   forward 
again,  saying,  "  Bring  them  to  the  mourners  bench, 
before    you    sit    down,"    and    they    came,    men, 
women,  and  children,  crowding  the  "square,"  and 
filling  the  front  seats,  until  we  could  take  no  more. 
All  who  could  not  get  through  the  crowd,  or  find 
room  among  the  "  seekers,"  were  reiquested  to  raise 
their  hands.     They  went  up  like  trees  in  the  forest, 
and  men  cried  aloud  for  mercy.     Just  in  the  rush, 
and  burst  of  prayers  all  over  the  house,  I  fell  in  the 
pulpit  as  a  dead  man,  with  the  blood  flowing  from 
my  mouth.     When  I  became  conscious,  I  found  a 
crowd  about   me   preparing  to  remove  me  to  my 
lodgings.     I  begged  them  to  let  me  lie  quietly  for 
awhile,  where  I  was  concealed  from  the  congrega- 
tion.    Told  Brother  D.  to  tell  the  people  that  all 
was  well,  and  that  I  would  soon  be  on  my  feet 
again,  and  bade  him  go  on  with  the  meeting.     While 
prayer  was  offered  all  over  the  house,  and  hundreds  of 
penitents  were  crying  for  mercy.  Dr.  Conant,  Thos. 
Kichey,  then  a  young  man,  now  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Northern  New  York  Conference,  and  a 
few  others,  quietly  candied  me  from  the  house  to  the 
residence   of   Dr.   Conant,    who  prescribed   for  me 
with  a  father's  tenderness  and  love.     After  all  had 
left  but  the  Dr.  and  Sister  Conant,  for  he  insisted 
xhat  I  must  have  quiet,  he  sat  down  by  my  bedside 
and  wept  like  a  child.     He  was  not  a  Christian.     I 
said  to  him,  "  Doctor,  I  would  willingly  give  my  life 
for  your  salvation.     His  reply  was,  "God  helping 


God's  Strength  in  Human    Weakness.       355 

me,  I  will  meet  you  in  heaven."  He  was  himself  a 
consumptive.  He  outstripped  me  in  the  race,  and 
has  been  in  the  glory  world  for  thirty  or  forty  years. 
When  the  Master  makes  up  his  jewels,  I  expect  to 
see  him  as  a  brilliant  gem  in  the  coronal  of  Jesus. 

My  preaching  was  ended  for  three  years,  but  the 
work  went  on.  How  true  the  adage,  "  God  buries 
His  workmen,  but  carries  on  His  work." 


356       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTEK  XXIV 


AFTER  THE  BATTLE. 


7^;0Tl  several  days  after  the   hemorrhage,  I  was 
kept  very  quiet,  the  Doctor  fearing  a  recurrence 
of  the   henioptyses,  which  did  not  occur,  but 
inflammation  set  in  which  was  painful,  and  severely 
affected  the  whole  nervous  system.     The  treatment 
aggravated  the  disease  and  produced  what  seemed 
to%e  a  confirmed  hectic.     I  was  bled  once  a  week 
for  about  three  months,  had  a  blister  on  the  thorax 
continually,  commencing  on  one  side  and  as  soon  as 
it  began  to  heal  another  was  applied  to  the  other, 
then  to  the  breast,  and  so  on  round  and  round.     An 
emetic  was  administered  every  other  evening,  and 
antimony  was  given  frequently  to  produce  expecto- 
ration.    The  whole  treatment  was  debilitating,  and 
soon  reduced  me  to  great  weakness.     Such  medical 
practice  would  be  condemned  by  the  faculty  now, 
but  then  it  was  considered  essential  in  all  inflamma- 
tory cases. 

Dr.  Conant  was  a  well  read  physician,  and  stood 

at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  Franklin  county,  and 

•  from  his  decision  there  was  no  appeal.     He  was  a 

close  student,  and  whatever  was  laid  down  in  the 

books  he  followed  with  unwavering  confidence.     He 


After  the  Battle. 


357 


Avas  himself  in  poor  health,  of  consumptive  tenden- 
cies, and  practiced  in  his  own  case,  just  the  treat- 
ment which  he  gave  his  patients.  "Bleeding  and 
blistering ''  was,  in  his  view,  the  panacea  for  all  the 
ills  of  life^  and  when  an  invalid  himself,  only  able  to 
practice  to  a  limited  extent,  he  would  open  a  vein  in 
his  own  arm  and  draw  blood  as  a  remedy,  then  plug 
it  up  so  he  might  open  it  again  and  again,  it  being 
more  convenient  than  the  frequent  use  of  the  lancet, 
lie  sometimes  arranged  a  patient's  arm  in  the  same 
way.  Brother  Stickney  of  Malone,  an  intimate 
friend  of  mine,  carried  a  plug  in  his  arm  as  a  con- 
venience, and  could  draw  blood  at  will,  without  the 
trouble  or  expense  of  a  physician,  and  such  cases 
were  not  uncommon. 

I  sometimes  became  dissatisfied  with  the  treat- 
ment and  remonstrated.  The  Doctor  would  then 
bring  his  book  to  my  bedside  and  read  me  long  dis- 
quisitions on  diseases  of  the  lungs,  illustrated  by 
cases  given  by  the  authors.  And  when  I  objected 
to  the  views  given  in  "  old  musty  books,"  arguing 
that  I  would  rather  have  his  own  unbiased,  common 
sense  opinion,  than  the  teachings  of  all  the  dead 
authors  in  his  library,  good,  patient  man  that  he 
was  he  would  call  a  counsel  of  seven  physicians,  con- 
sisting of  the  two  Doctors  Powell  of  Malone,  Doc- 
tor Darling  of  Constableville,  and  four  others  from 
adjoining  towns,  who  would  meet  in  my  room  and 
approve  of  all  that  my  physician  was  doing.  After 
they  had  left  Doctor  C.  would  ask  me  if  I  was  not 
now  satisfied  with  the  treatment,  and  I  would  hon- 


358       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

estly  answer  "  Ko.  I  have  had  only  the  judgment 
of  one  man.  His  learned  counsel  did  not  amount  to 
anything  in  my  mind,  for  as  he  was  the  physician  of 
the  county,  standing  head  and  shoulders  above  them 
all,  not  one  of  them  would  or  could  dissent  from 
him,  but  approve  of  all  he  was  doing." 

After  many  years  have  passed  I  am  more  confi- 
dent that  the  treatment  was  an  error.  But  I  am 
certain  the  Doctor  ^Yas  sincere,  and  true  to  his 
school  of  medicine;  honest  in  his  practice,  doing 
just  what  he  believed  was  right.  The  system  ^vas 
wrong,  but  the  man  \vas  true  and  consistent  with 
his  creed. 

Mrs.  Conant  was  a  superior  woman,  w^ell  educated, 
intelligent,  accomplislied,  amiable  and  social.  She 
was  a  devoted  Christian  and  a  loyal  Methodist.  She 
nursed  me  with  a  mother  s  care  and  tenderness,  and 
I  highly  appreciated  her  ministry  of  love.  The 
Doctor  and  his  excellent  wife  were  to  me  like  my 
own  parents,  and  I  revered  and  loved  them  with  fil- 
ial affection.  I  expect  to  find  them  waiting  at  the 
pearly  gates  to  w^elcome  me  to  "Our  Father's 
house."  Peace  to  the  memory  of  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Conant,  they  are  both  long  since  among  the  glori- 
fied. 

It  was  a  great  change  to  me  after  three  and  a  half 
years  of  active  itinerancy,  spent  mostly  in  pow^erful 
and  exciting  revivals,  to  lie  quietly  on  a  sick  bed, 
receiving  the  ministrations  of  others,  and  helpless  as 
a  child.  But  I  found  the  unfailing  promise  sure; 
''  My  grace  is  sufiicient  for  Thee." 


After  the  Battle. 


359 


The  first  Sabbath  of  my  sickness  comes  with  vivid 
recollection  to  my  mind.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife 
vied  with  each  other  in  their  kindness  as  to  which 
should  remain  with  me  during  the  time  of  church 
service,  but  I  insisted  on  being  left  alone.  So,  yield- 
ing to  my  entreaties  and  placing  the  medicine  near 
my  pillow,  they  started  with  the  pastor  for  church. 
I  cannot  describe  to  you  the  stillness  of  that  hour. 
It  was  not  painful,  but  overwhelmingly  pleasant,  the 
delightful  hush  of  the  sweet  Sabbath  rest.  What  a 
blessed  hour  for  meditation  and  prayer. 

In  all  my  ministrations  to  the  sick,  in  after  life, 
this  hour  would  come  to  me,  dispelling  the  gloom, 
and  making  the  sick  room  the  vestibule  of  heaven. 

"  Blest  Saviour,  what  delicious  fare — 
How  sweet  thine  entertainments  are  I 
Never  did  angels  taste  above, 
Redeeming  grace  and  dying  love." 

I  reviewed  the  Sabbaths  in  which  I  led  the  tribes 
to  worship  in  His  Holy  Tabernacle.  God  had  ful- 
filled His  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  w^ith  you  always," 
giving  me  to  "see  His  power  and  glory  in  the 
sanctuarv." 

How  His  grace  had  made  strong  my  weakness. 
I  had  fallen  in  the  battle  with  my  face  towards  the 
foe,  with  the  old  "  Damascus  blade,"  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit,  in  my  hand,  the  dew  of  battle  on  my 
brow,  and  the  Gospel  armor  on.  If  my  work  was 
done,  I  earnestly  prayed  that  God,  in  His  mercy,  for 
Jesus  sake,  w^ould  pardon  my  errors,  wash  me  in  the 


3t](>       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  prepare  me  for  a  holy 
heaven.  God's  great  peace  came  sweetly  into  my 
heart,  and  I  was  resigned  and  happy.  Not  my  will, 
but  Thine  be  done.  Living  or  dying,  I  am  the 
Lord's. 

^ly  thoughts  were  interrupted,  and  the  stillness 
broken,  by  the  front  door  being  opened,  and  the 
sound  of  footsteps  in  the  room  below.  I  knew  by 
the  short,  quick  step  that  it  was  a  young  person. 
Presently  they  began  to  ascend  the  stairs  leading  to 
my  room.  The  door  was  pushed  gently  open,  and 
a  sweet  boy  of  about  six  summers,  with  ruddy 
cheeks,  flaxen  hair,  and  blue,  pitying  eyes,  stood  at 
my  bedside.  With  a  low,  gentle  voice  he  said,  "  Mr. 
Minister,  are  you  sick  ? "  I  answered  in  a  whisper, 
"  Yes,  my  boy,  I  am  very  sick."  "  Well,"  he  said,. 
''  Brother  Dunning  told  us  in  church  that  you  were 
sick,  and  going  to  heaven,  and  it  made  us  all  cry,, 
and  while  pa  and  ma  were  crying,  I  thought  I  would 
come  to  your  house  and  pray  for  you,  just  as  you 
prayed  for  ma  one  day  when  she  was  sick.  It  made 
her  better,  and  she  was  glad  you  came.  Would  you 
like  to  have  me  pray  for  you  \ "  1  told  him  I  would, 
and  he  said  he  would  sing  a  hymn  first.  So,  seating 
himself  in  an  easy  chair,  he  leaned  back  in  the 
cushions,  and  closing  his  eyes,  sang,  with  a  seraph's 
voice,  a  popular  melody  of  that  day,  called  "  Cap- 
tain Kidd,"  a  noted  pirate  on  the  high  seas,  who  had 
been  hung  for  his  crimes. 

Because  he  prayed  for  mercy  on  the  gallows,  my 
little  visitor  thought  it  was  appropriate  for  the  occa- 


After  the  Battle, 


361 


sion.  He  then  prayed  for  me  most  fervently,  and 
though  the  petitions  were  somewhat  disconnected, 
and  some  of  them  might  not  be  to  the  point,  yet  it 
was  a  sincere  and  earnest  prayer,  and  God,  who 
looks  more  at  the  language  of  the  heart  than  of  the 
tongue,  blessed  me  according  to  my  needs;  and 
w^hen  my  little  comforter  arose,  and  asked  me  if  I 
"  felt  better,"  I  could  truthfully  assure  him  that  I 
did,  for  he  had  been  to  me  a  ministering  angel. 

When  the  family  returned,  they  were  astonished 
to  find  the  boy  in  my  room,  and  hurried  him  home, 
as  his  father  was  looking  through  the  village  for 
him.  After  he  left  I  gave  them  an  account  of  the 
visit  and  exercises,  to  their  great  amusement. 

Frequent  bleeding,  blistering,  and  emetics  reduced 
my  strength  rapidly,  so  in  a  few  weeks  I  became 
helpless  as  an  infant.  For  about  three  days  after  I 
was  bled,  I  was  comparatively  free  from  pain ;  then 
it  would  increase,  till  at  the  end  of  the  week  it 
became  very  severe ;  then  the  lancet  would  be  used 
again,  until  my  blood  became  so  low,  that  in  a  pint 
of  fluid  drawn  from  my  arm,  after  it  had  cooled, 
there  would  be  only  about  two  tablespoonfuls  of 
blood,  the  rest  a  light  watery  substance.  After 
about  two  months,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would 
not  be  bled  again;  that  such  frequent  drainage 
w-ould  exhaust  the  source  of  life,  and  I  preferred  to 
die  a  natural  death,  rather  than  be  guilty  of  suicide 
bv  consenting  to  a  course  of  treatment  that  insured 
certain  dissolution. 

In  a  few  weeks  I  gained  sufficient  strength  to  be 


362       Reviiniscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

moved  to  my  circuit  at  West  Chateaugay  (now 
Burke).  My  strength  increased  gradually  after  dis- 
pensing with  the  debilitating  treatment,  till  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks  more,  I  was  able  to  visit 
Chateaugay  Corners,  IS^orth  Chateaugay,  and  Ellis's 
Scenery,  in  Canada.  Whilst  at  Brother  Broady's, 
on  the  "  Scenery,"  I  had  a  relapse,  confining  me  to 
the  bed  for  ten  or  twelve  davs,  and  rousino:  the  old 
hectic  symptoms  again  to  such  a  degree  as  to  greatly 
alarm  my  friends.  During  the  severity  of  the 
attack,  a  stranger  traveling  to  the  "  States ''  called  at 
Brother  Broad^^'s,  and  hearing  the  moaning  from  the 
sick  room,  was  told  that  a  vouno^  minister  was  verv 
sick,  and  in  a  dying  state,  and  on  reaching  Malone 
the  next  day,  he  reported  my  death  as  occurring  the 
day  that  he  came  through  the  "  Scenery."  The  news 
spread  rapidly  through  the  town,  and  was  the  sub- 
ject of  general  conversation.  Brother  Dunning 
called  on  the  traveler  at  the  hotel,  to  learn  the  par- 
ticulars, and  was  told  by  the  man  that  he  was  at 
Mr.  Broady's,  in  Canada,  the  day  before,  and  learn- 
ing that  I  was  dying,  the  lady  of  the  house  allowed 
him  to  look  into  my  room,  and  he  saw  me  with  the 
pallor  of  death  upon  my  countenance,  and  was  sure 
that  I  could  live  only  a  few  minutes,  and  it  was  cur- 
rently rumored  through  the  ''Scenery,"  before  he 
left,  that  I  was  dead,  and  the  people  were  lament- 
ing my  early  departure.  Brother  Dunning  was 
acquainted  with  Brother  Broady's  family,  and  know- 
ing that  I  was  there,  concluded  that  it  must  be  true, 
and  therefore  on  Sabbath  afternoon  preached  my 


After  the  Battle, 


368 


funeral  sermon  in  the  court  house  to  a  large  congre- 
gation, the  other  churches  joining  in  the  obsequies. 
A  stranger  traveling  westward,  spent  the  Sabbath 
in  Malone,  heard  the  sermon,  and  when  he  reached 
Canton,  St.  Lawrence  county,  related  the  particulars, 
and  Kev.  L.  King  preached  another  funeral  sermon 
in  the  Methodist  Church,  at  Canton  village,  on  the 
following  Sabbath,  and  repeated  it  at  Buck's  Chapel 
by  request  in  the  afternoon.  All  this  time  I  was 
recovering  strength,  and  arranging  to  start  for  the 
Black  Kiver  Conference,  which  was  to  hold  its  first 
session  in  Watertown,  September  1,  1835. 

I  reached  Major  Dimicks,  in  the  town  of  Malone, 
Wednesday  evening,  and  found  the  family  all  absent 
attending  meeting,  for  Brother  Dunning  had  an 
appointment  in  the  neighborhood  that  evening. 

Leaving  my  horse  and  sulky  at  the  gate,  I  entered 
the  house,  and  being  weary,  lay  down  on  a  couch, 
and  soon  fell  into  a  refreshing  sleep.  When  the 
family  returned  from  meeting,  they  ware  over- 
whelmed with  astonishment  and  fear.  They  would 
approach  the  couch  and  look  at  me,  and  then  go  to 
the  other  end  of  the  room  in  mute  wonder.  Brother 
Dunning  broke  the  silence  by  saying  in  surprise, 
"  For  God's  sake.  Brother  Erwin,  tell  us  is  this  you, 
or  your  ghost?"  I  rose  from  the  couch,  and  could 
only  say  in  a  low  whisper,  "  It  is  really  I,  for  '  a 
Spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me  have.' " 
Brother  D.  then  told  of  the  report  of  my  death  (it 
was  the  first  I  had  heard  of  it),  how  he  had  preached 
my  funeral  on  Sunday  to  an  immense  congregation, 


3 


CA       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 


and  had  made  use  of  my  death  in  his  sermon  that 
evening.  I  was  sorry  to  give  them  such  a  shock, 
but  there  was  no  help  for  it.  It  took  them  some 
time  to  recover  from  the  surprise,  .and  then  we 
joined  in  thanksgiving  to  God  for  His  sparing  mercy. 
Many  came  to  see  me  at  the  village  the  next  day,  as 
one  that  had  risen  from  the  dead. 

It  was  quite  different  at  Canton  and  Buck's  ChapeL 
The  news  had  reached  them,  and  the  error  was  cor- 
rected before  I  got  there.  But  in  passing  through 
West  Stockholm,  I  called  at  Dr.  Webb's,  and  in 
answering  my  rap,  Sister  Webb  came  to  the  door, 
and  having  heard  the  report  of  my  death,  and 
believing  it  to  be  true,  when  she  saw  me  standing 
pale  and  emaciated,  she  turned  white  as  a  sheet,  and 
staggering  back  fell  upon  a  couch  in  a  faint.  I  was 
deeply  grieved,  and  resolved,  not  to  venture  out  again 
until  it  was  known  that  I  was  still  living.  We  had 
no  railroads,  telegraphs,  or  telephones  in  those  days ; 
the  most  rapid  method  of  communication  was  by 
stage,  and  these  only  traveled  on  the  main  roads, 
and  it  took  considerable  time  to  get  news  into  the 
remote  sections  of  the  country. 

On  my  way  to  the  conference,  in  passing  through 
the  town  of  Philadelphia,  Jefferson  county,  a  thun- 
dei*storm  came  up,  and  forced  me  to  take  refuge  in 
a  farm  house  by  the  wayside.  The  rain  continuing 
through  the  afternoon,  I  was  constrained  to  ask  for 
entertainment  for  the  night,  to  which  the  family 
consented.  My  host  was  a  wealthy  Ilixite  Quaker, 
living  in  affluence.     His  fine  house  was  richly  fur- 


After  th(f  Battle. 


365 


nished,  and  all  his  surroundings  indicated  thrift  and 
prosperity.     He  was  an  intelligent  man,  well  posted 
in   general  affairs,   and   familiar  with   the  church 
polity  and  doctrine  of  the   "friends."     He  under- 
stood the  controversy  between  the  orthodox  and 
Hixite  Quakers ;  could  explain  the  tenets  of  each ; 
point  out  clearly  the  difference,  and  was  a  great 
admirer  of  David  Hicks,  in  his  schismatic  course, 
and  a  champion  of   his  socinianism.     He  had  the 
zeal  of  St.  Paul,  without  his  piety,  and  showed  his 
love  for  the  cause  by  his  profound  hatred  of  the 
Orthodox  Quakers.     I  begged  the  privilege  of  con- 
ducting family  worship  before  we  retired,   which 
was  reluctantly  granted,  under  some  protest.     He 
charged  me  seventy-five  cents  for  my  entertainment, 
and  I  left,  grateful  for  food  and  shelter,  but  weary 
and  disgusted  with  his  incessant  conversation  and 
unscriptural  notions. 


366       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


PROVIDENTIAL  GUIDANCE. 


^N  reax)hing  Watertown,  the  seat  of  the  Black 
River  conference,  I  was  assigned  to  Mr.  Faihng's 
Hotel  for  entertainment,  in  company  with  five 
others,  namely :  Brothers  Anson  Fuller,  E.  W.  R. 
Allen,  A.  H.  Tilton,  and  two  others.  We  all  occu- 
pied a  large  upper  room,  containing  three  beds,  a 
few  chairs,  and  without  carpet  on  the  floor,  or  cur- 
tains at  the  windows. 

The  company  was  all  that  could  be  desired  in  the 
day  time,  social,  intelligent,  cheerful  and  devoted, 
but  they  were  all  profound  snorers,  and  gave  a  nasal 
concert  every  night.  Take  five  snorers  in  one  room 
in  full  blast,  and  a  nervous  invalid  who  finds  it  difli- 
cult  to  get  sleep  enough  to  sustain  nature  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  and  you  are  prepared 
to  sympathize  with  my  condition.  I  endured  it  for 
four  nights  and  then  succumbed,  and  found  a  quiet 
place  in  a  private  family,  that  was  restful  and 
refreshing. 

During  the  examination  I  sat  with  the  class  part 
of  the  time,  but  was  too  feeble  to  remain  long  in 
that  position.    The  examining  committee  kindly  took 


Providential  Gmdwnce. 


367 


me  to  a  room  in  the  parsonage  and  allowed  me  to  lie 
on  a  bed  to  complete  the  course.  They  made  a  very 
creditable  report  of  my  studies  to  the  conference. 
But  when  my  case  for  full  reception  into  the  confer- 
ence came  up,  it  became  a  question,  whether  a  sick 
man  could  be  received.  John  Dempster,  Nathaniel 
Salisbury  and  several  others  took  the  ground,  that  a 
man's  health  was  on  trial,  as  well  as  his  qualifications 
and  usefulness.  But  on  the  other  side,  S.  Chase,  S. 
Comfort,  T.  Puffer,  G.  Gary  and  a  majority  of  the 
members  claimed  that  the  failure  of  my  health  was 
merely  incidental,  and  not  a  bar  to  reception ;  that 
such  was  my  temperament  and  the  nature  of  my 
disease,  that  I  would  either  soon  recuperate,  or  be 
transferred  to  the  Church  triumphant,  and  that  there 
could  be  no  risk  in  taking  me  in.  The  eloquent 
Dempster  made  one  of  his  strong,  logical  speeclies, 
which  he  closed  by  saying  that  '^a  man  might  be 
well  qualified,  extensively  useful,  amiable,  winning 
in  manner,  deeply  devoted,  and  generally  sought  for, 
but  if  his  health  failed  during  his  probation,  that  alone 
was  sufticient  to  debar  him  from  membership  in  the 
body,  that  it  would  be  anomalous  in  conference  pro- 
ceedings, and  establishing  a  dangerous  precedent." 
Isaac  Puffer  rose  after  him  and  said,  that  he  remem- 
bered the  case  of  a  brother,  who  came  before  the 
annual  conference  some  years  ago,  for  admittance, 
with  broken  health,  and  but  little  prospect  of  rally- 
ing again ;  that  the  conference  hesitated  to  receive 
him,  but  did  so  by  a  respectable  vote ;  that  brother's 
health  soon  improved  and   ho  became  one  of  the 


36S      Eeminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

most  laborious  and  useful  men  of  the  age.  That 
sick  young  man  was  the  brother  who  had  so  ably 
addressed  them,  the  Rev.  John  Dempster.  Dr.  D. 
with  characteristic  frankness,  rose  and  thanked  the 
brother  for  calling  to  his  memory  the  circumstances 
of  his  own  admittance,  and  how  God  had  graciously 
spared  him,  and  continued  him  as  an  humble  laborer 
in  the  vineyard;  that  if  God  had  a  work  for  the 
young  man  to  do,  whose  case  was  before  them,  he 
could  easily  restore  him;  he  desired  therefore,  to 
recall  his  remarks,  and  was  prepared  to  vote  in  the 
affirmative.  The  question  was  taken  with  nearly  a 
unanimous  vote  in  the  affirmative,  none  voting  in 
the  negative.  I  was  greatly  surprised  when  I  heard 
the  result,  because  I  had  supposed  that  my  failing 
health  was  an  insurmountable  bar  to  my  admit- 
tance, and  I  received  it  as  another  evidence  of 
my  heavenly  Father's  love,  and  an  intimation  that 
it  was  His  pleasure  that  I  should  improve  every 
moment  in  preparation  for  future  usefulness. 

The  Black  River  Annual  Conference,  held  its  first 
session  in  the  old  stone  church  on  Arsenal  street, 
Watertown,  N.  Y.,  commencing  September  1,  1886, 
Bishop  Beverly  Waugh  presiding,  and  Rev.  William 
Ward  Ninde,  Secretary.  It  comprised  forty-one 
effective  members,  six  superannuates  and  twenty  pro- 
bationers, thirteen  of  the  first  year's  class,  and  seven 
of  the  second  vears  class.  Every  member  of  the 
second  year's  class  was  received  into  full  connection, 
except  one  who  was  continued  over  till  the  next 
year.     These,  together  with  those  received  on  pro- 


Proviclential  Guidance,  369 

bation  at  that  session,  made  the  working  force  of  the 
conference  who  were  appointed  by  the  Bishoj)  to 
fields  of  labor  within  our  bounds,  just  seventj^-nine  in 
number. 

Our  territory  included  all  of  that  part  of  the  State 
of  New  York  west  of  the  Troy  Conference,  not  em- 
braced in  the  Genesee  Conference  as  far  south  as  the 
Erie  Canal,  except  Utica.     It  was  divided  into  four 
Presiding  Elder's  Districts.     Herkimer  district  had 
eleven  charges,  George  Gary,  Presiding  Elder.     Os- 
wego District,  fourteen  charges,  Isaac  Stone,  Presid- 
ing Elder.     Black  River  District,  fourteen  charges. 
Gardener  Baker,  Presiding  Elder,  and  Potsdam  Dis- 
trict,  seventeen   charges,   John   Loveys,    Presiding 
Elder.   The  Presidmg  Elders  were  expected  to  attend 
all   the   four  Quarterly   Meetings  of    each   charge 
from  the  commencement  on  Saturday  tiU  the  close 
on  Sunday,  and  their  presence  and  ^labors  were  a 
power.    We  looked  for  conversions  at  every  meetino- 
and  were   seldom  disappointed.     Much  prayer  wa's 
offered  all  over  the  circuit,  for  at  least  the  l^t  four 
weeks  of  the  ecclesiastical  quarter,  in  the  meetings, 
around  the  family  altars,  and  in  the  closets  of  tlie 
members,  that  God  would  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon 
all  societies  in  the  circuit,  prepare  them  for  the  meet- 
ing, bring  them  together  in  the  fullness  of  the  Spirit, 
anoint  the  sons  of  Levi  with  a  divine  unction,'  that 
they  might  preach  with  power,  bringing  sinners  to 
repentance,  and  wrap  the  circuit  in  a  bla^^e  of  revival. 
And  these  earnest  prayers  were  often  answered  with 
Pentecostal   showers.     Tlie  general   class  meetino^ 

24  " 


370      Reminiscences  of  Early.  Circuit  Life. 

were  held  in  every  society  as  preparatory  to  the 
Quarterly  Meetings,  and  the  quarterly  fasts  strictly 

observed. 

Black  Eiver  Conference,  although  small  in  numbers, 
was  an  earnest  body  of  men.  The  Bishops  denomi- 
nated it  the  "  Meek  Conference,"  and  it  was  distin- 
guished for  its  union  and  brotherly  love.  In  its 
discussions  it  had  learned  to  use  strong  arguments 
with  kind  words  and  a  sweet  spirit,  and  for  many 
years  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the  harmony,  or 

mar  its  peace. 

It  was  a  body  of  self-sacrificing  men,  ready  to  go 

anywhere,  endure  hardships  and  suffer  privations  if 

they  might  only  win  men  to  Christ.     They  went 

cheerfully  to  the  wild  frontier  circuits,  and  the  most 

sickly  and  malarious  parts  of  the  country,  saying 

with   St.  Paul,  ''  None  of   these  things  move  me, 

neitheir  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I 

might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the   ministry 

which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify 

the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God."     They  sowed,  but 

it  was  over  hills  and  mountains ;  they  penetrated 

forests,  forded  streams,  and  braved  dangers  to  carry 

the  gospel  of  salvation  to  the  scattered  settlements, 

and  plant  churches  among  the  hardy  pioneers  of 

civilization. 

Barzilai  Willey,  James  Covel,  Jonathan  Newman, 
William  Case,  Isaac  Puffer  and  others,  carried  the 
gospel  through  the  valleys  of  St.  Lawrence  and 
Franklin  counties  from  the  year  1800— and  when  I 
was  permitted  to  enter  into  the  labors  of  these  great 


Providential  Guidance. 


871 


ami  good  men,  we  found  a  strip  of  territory  running 
through  three  counties,  cleared  and  well  cultivated, 
with  well  organized  circuits  and  stations.  Still  much 
of  the  country  was  a  wilderness,  with  small  societies 
springing  up  in  the  sparse  settlements  formed  by  the 
march  of  civilization.  Some  of  the  charges  were 
large  and  laborious,  support  meagre,  accommodations 
poor,  traveling  bad,  corduroy  roads,  bridle  patlis, 
obscure  windmgs  through  the  forests,  marked  by 
blazed  trees,  and  obstructed  by  many  difficulties. 
But  these  men  went  out  with  brave  cheerful  hearts, 
thankful  for  the  privilege  of  preaching  Christ  any- 
where. 

At  the  AVatertown  Conference  of  1886,  my  breth- 
ren kindly  gave  me  a  superannuated  relation,  and  by 
the  advice  of  my  physicians,  I  concluded  to  go  South 
and  spend  the  winter,  hoping  that  the  mild,  balmy 
climate  would  restore  my  health  and  prepare  me  to 
resume  my  much-loved  work  in  the  ministry.  With 
this  object  in  view,  I  returned  to  my  father's  house 
in  Fort  Covington,  Franklin  County,  N.  Y.,  to  make 
preparation  for  the  journey.  The  doctors  thought 
that  a  voyage  by  water,  if  attempted,  might  prove 
fatal,  as  my  lungs  were  too  much  affected  to  endure 
the  sea  breezes.  So  I  arranged  to  make  the  journey 
on  horseback,  by  short  stages,  as  I  could  endure  it. 
My  objective  point  was  Millageville,  Ga.  My  friend. 
Brother  Calvin  Danforth,  had  spent  the  preceeding 
winter  in  that  city,  and  was  to  return  in  the  fall  h'j 
ocean,  and  I  was  to  join  him  in  Millageville  if  I 
could  endure  the  land  trip  of  several  hundred  miles. 


372       Beminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

After  bidding  adieu  to  my  kindred  and  friends,  and 
shedding  many  tears  at  the  grave  of  my  revered  and 
sainted   mother,  I   mounted  my  faithful  horse,  and 
turned  my  face  southward.       I  rode  about  eighty 
miles  the  first  four  days,  and  over-taxed  my  strength. 
The  fifth  morning  I  found  myself  feverish  and  ex- 
hausted, and  reining  up  at  the  gate  of  Rev.  Isaac 
Sprague,   of   Sprague's   Corners,  a   very   dear  and 
devoted  friend,  I  threw  the  bridle  over  the  post,  and 
was  assisted  by  Sister  Sprague  into  the  house.     She 
removed  my  wraps,  and  I  lay  down  upon  a  bed,  from 
whence  I  was  unable  to  arise  for  at  least  two  months, 
only  as  I  was  lifted  by  others.     Brother  and  Sister 
Sprague  cared  for  me  with  tenderness  and  affection. 
Had  I  been  their  own  brother  they  could  not  have 
done  more  for  my  comfort,  and  now  in  my  declining 
years,   the   memory   of    their  loving  ministrations 
awakens  my  warm  gratitude  and  fills  my  eyes  with 
thankful  tears.     Sister  Sprague,  my  excellent  nui^e, 
gained  the  better  land  years  ago,  and  has  received 
the  reward  of  her  patient  toils.     But  Brother  Sprague 
is  still  alive,  a  venerable  man  full  of  years  and  good 
works.     And  if  his  eyes  ever  light  on  these  pages, 
let  him  be  assured  that  he  has  a  warm  place  in  my 
he^irt,  that  has  ever  been  full  of  gratitude  to  him 
and  his  sainted  wife,  for  their  loving  care,  so  freely 
given,  "  without  money  and  without  price." 
""  Whilst  lying  helplessly  sick  at  Brother  Sprague's, 
it  was  strongly  impressed  upon  my  mind,  that    if 
John  Loveys,\he  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district; 
Jesse  T.  Peck,  Principal  of  Gouverneur  Wesleyan 


Providential  Guidance, 


373 


Seminary,  and  Reuben  Reynolds,  preacher  in 
charge  of  Gouverneur  circuit,  were  to  come  to  my 
room,  and  unite  in  prayer  for  my  recovery,  that  I 
should  be  restored  to  health  again.  Though  the 
thought  took  a  deep  hold  upon  me,  I  treated  it  as  a 
mere  impression,  and  endeavored  to  dismiss  it  from 
my  mind.  Still  it  lingered  with  me,  although  1  did 
not  mention  it  to  anv  one.  The  next  Sabbath  was 
our  quarterly  meeting,  at  Pike's  school  house, 
about  three  miles  distant,  and  these  three  brethren 
attended.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  on  Sunday, 
to  my  surprise  they  came  to  my  room,  bringing  the 
elements  with  them  to  give  me  the  sacrament.  I 
was  very  weak,  unable  to  turn  myself  in  the  bed, 
and  could  only  speak  in  a  whisper.  Before  receiving 
the  Lord's  Supper,  I  related  to  Brother  Peck  what 
my  impressions  had  been  during  the  week,  and  he 
remarked  that  such  had  been  his  convictions  also. 
Turning  to  the  other  brethren  he  related  to  them 
my  feelings,  and  said  that  his  own  had  corresponded 
w^ith  them,  and  both  Brother  Lovevs  and  Father 
Reynolds  replied  that  such  had  been  their  convic- 
tions also.  They  believed  that  as  all  had  been 
similarly  impressed,  without  any  communication 
together,  it  must  be  of  God,  and  that  they  ought  to 
follow  the  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  make 
ray  case  the  subject  of  special  prayer.  They 
thought  me  too  weak  to  bear  any  excitement,  or 
endure  a  protracted  service.  So,  after  conferring 
together,  they  decided  to  administer  the  sacrament, 
and  then  unite  in  prayers  for  my  recovery.     At  my 


374       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 

request  they  called  Brother  and  Sister  Sprague  into 
the  room.  Brother  Peck  led  in  prayer.  The  peti- 
tion was  short  and  fervent,  all  uniting  their  faith 
with  his,  asking  God,  if  agreeable  with  His  will,  to 
restore  ray  health,  and  make  me  useful  in  His 
service. 

What  Penial  was  to  Jacob  in  that  memorable 
night  with  the  angel  at  the  "ford  of  Jabok,"  this 
season  was  to  us,  and  that  prayer,  urged  by  the 
united  faith  of  that  little  company,  was  really  "  a 
face  to  face  "  talk  with  God,  who  said,  "  according 
to  thy  faith  be  it  unto  thee."  There  was  no  excite- 
ment in  the  room,  just  an  overwhelming  sense  of 
the  divine  presence. 

"  That  speechless  awe  that  dare  not  move, 
And  all  the  silent  heaven  of  love." 

It  was  accompanied  by  an  assurance  that  the 
prayer  was  heard,  and  the  request  granted. 

I  said  to  the  brethren,  I  am  conscious  of  a  cure. 
God  will  take  time  to  give  me  strength,  but  "  as  the 
Lord  liveth  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,"  I  am  well.  God 
brought  me  from  the  borders  of  the  grave,  with  the 
upi)er  lobe  of  my  right  lung  destroyed,  and  has  kept 
me  fifty  years  in  active  service,  in  answer  to  the 
prayer  of  faith  offered  by  that  little  consecrated 
band  in  my  sick  room.  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and 
to  the  Son  and  to  the  ever  blessed  Spirit,  for  the  ful- 
filment of  his  promise. 

In  two  weeks  from  that  time,  I  rode  horse  back, 
on  a  cold  winter's  day,  from  Sprague's  Corners  to 

( 


, 


I* 


Providential  Guidance, 


375 


Morley,  a  distance  of  about  forty  miles,  happy  in  an 
unwavering  trust  in  my  Divine  healer. 

Men  have  often  since,  when  I  was  laboring  in 
some  of  the  great  revivals  that  God  has  permitted 
me  to  witness,  preaching  night  after  night,  and  often 
in  the  afternoons  also,  for  three  or  four  months  con 
tinuously,  asked  how  it  was,  that  one  naturally  so 
frail,  and  with  lungs  impaired,  could  endure  such 
protracted  and  exhaustive  labors.  I  could  only  refer 
them  to  Jesse  T.  Peck's  prayer,  urged  by  the  moun- 
tain removing  faith  of  the  four  believing  Hure,  who 
held  up  his  hands  in  that  sacramental  service  in  my 
sick  room.  And  all  can  find  the  answer  to  such  a 
question  in  James,  v.  14-15 :  "  Is  any  sick  among 
you?  let  him  call  for  the  elders  of  the  church;  and 
let  them  pray  over  him,  anointing  him  with  oil  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord.  And  the  prayer  of  faith 
shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up  ; 
and  if  he  have  committed  sins  they  shall  be  forgiven 
him." 

The  next  spring,  I  was  able  to  take  the  agency  of 
the  Gouverneur  Wesley  an  Seminary,  and  perform 
the  duties  of  that  office.  For  a  year  and  a  half  I 
served  the  seminary  in  that  capacity,  and  then 
resumed  the  direct  work  of  the  ministry. 

In  the  meantime  I  was  united  in  the  bonds  of 
holy  matrimony,  June  13,  1837,  with  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Jackson,  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Sally  Jackson,  of 
Morley,  N.  Y.  She  was  an  estimable  woman,  well 
educated,  cultured,  and  amiable.  She  was  a  precious 
gift  from  the  Lord,  a  true  helpmeet  in  my  responsi- 


376       Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life, 


ble  work;  faithful,  and  greatly  beloved  in  all  the 
charges  which  we  served.  In  the  pastoral  work  she 
was  a  power ;  her  earnest  appeals  reached  many 
hearts.  She  was  a  sweet  singer,  having  a  voice  of 
great  compass  and  melody,  and  used  her  gift  of  song 
in  the  Master's  work.  Yq'n  were  more  successful  in 
ministering  at  the  altar,  and  her  prayers  and  singing 
are  still  remembered  by  those  who  survive  her.  She 
was  a  model  Christian,  a  true  friend,  a  devoted 
mother,  and  one  of  the  best  of  wives.  The  eulogy 
that  Solomon  pronounced  upon  the  virtuous  woman ^ 
found  its  fullest  application  in  her.  "  Many  daughters 
have  done  virtuously,  but  thou  excellest  them  all." 

We  lived  in  blissful  union  for  thirty-seven  years, 
w^hen,  at  the  bidding  of  the  Master,  she  exchanged 
the  cross  for  the  crown,  and  is  among  the  samted 
and  the  saved  in  the  everlasting  city. 

Thus  I  have  passed  over  the  first  four  years  of 
my  early  circuit  life.  Kecalling  from  memory  some 
of  the  sketches  and  incidents  of  those  stirring  and 
primitive  times ;  and  by  request  of  my  annual  con- 
ference, some  of  the  district  conferences,  and  many 
cherished  friends,  I  give  them  to  the  public  with  the 
hope  that  they  may  quicken  the  zeal,  and  deepen 
the  piety  of  all  who  may  peruse  them,  and  be  ''  as 
bread  cast  upon  the  waters,  found  after  many  days." 

I  find  much  to  admire  in  the  early  spirit  of  the 
church.  I  am  charmed  with  the  burning  zeal  of  the 
fathers ;  their  devotion  to  the  work,  their  union  of 
spirit,  their  singleness  of  aim,  the  simplicity  and 
power    of    their  faith,   their    confidence  in   God's 


Providential  Guidance, 


377 


appointed  agencies,  and  their  unconquerable  perse- 
verance. They  "  laughed  at  impossibilities,  and  said 
it  must  be  done."  Their  faithful  rebukes  of  sin ; 
their  diligence  to  win  souls  to  Christ ;  "  Give  me 
souls,  or  else  I  die,"  was  the  cry  of  ever}^  heart; 
their  grand  motto,  ''  a  long  pull,  a  strong  pull,  and  a 
pull  altogether ; "  their  fasting,  their  earnest  prayers, 
and  their  wonderful  success.  1  see  God  leading 
them  on  to  victory,  and  am  led  to  exclaim  at  every 
step,  "  it  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  marvelous  in  our 

eyes." 

When  I  look  over  the  century  of  our  existence  as 
a  church,  I  see  Embury's  little  class  of  five  persons, 
consisting  of  Paul  and  Barbara  Heck,  Mrs.  Philip 
Emburv,  John  Lawrence,  and  Betty,  a  colored  ser- 
vant,  worshipping  in  an  old  "rigging  loft,"  and 
mark  their  struggles,  their  perseverance  and  their 
conquests,  culminating  in  a  majestic  church  with 
18,741  places  of  worship,  and  6,607  parsonages, 
together  valued  at  seventy  millions  of  dollars— with 
a  membership  of  one  million  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-two  tltousand  and  eighty-five,  spreading  east, 
w^est,  north  and  south,  in  all  the  habitable  w^orld, 
guided  by  a  divine  hand,  regulating  and  governing 
her  onward  course,  have  we  not  the  assurance  that 
if  we  retain  the  primitive  spirit,  energy  and  unction 
of  the  fathers,  we  shall  soon  win  the  world  to  Christ  ? 

Let  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  maintain  its 
simphcity  and  spirituality,  and  she  has  a  glorious 
future  opening  before  her.  Most  of  our  members 
bring  forth  the  fruits  of  holy  Uving.     Their  testimo- 


378      Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life. 

nies  in  the  class-meeting  and  lovefeast,  and  on  other 
suitable  occasions,  of  the  enjoyment  of  God's  par- 
doning mercy  and  adopting  love,  show  this.  Our 
church  in  this  country  has  never  had  a  serious  out- 
break of  theological  heresy.  Seldom  an  individual 
case  of  judicial  hetrodoxy.  Faction  and  division  has 
been  almost  unknown  among  us.  Her  piety  has 
kept  her  orthodox,  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  have 
been  its  vital  element.  Kepentance,  faith,  personal 
regeneration,  the  witness  of  the  spirit,  sanctiiication, 
have  been  the  living  ideas  of  its  teachings  through- 
out the  world.  Our  people  generally  prefer  spiritual, 
scriptural  preaching.  We  are  blest  with  frequent 
and  extensive  revivals,  and  can  say  with  Mr.  Wesley, 
"  The  hest  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us^  May  the 
apostolic  zeal,  the  pentecostal  power  and  unity  of 
purpose  that  burned  in  the  bosoms  of  the  fathers, 
still  rest  upon  us,  and  we  shall  soon  witness  the 
spreading  glory  of  the  millenium,  in  a  world  re- 
deemed unto  God,  and  join  with  admiring  millions 
in  the  grand  acclaim,  "  Alleluia !  for  the  Lord  God 
Omnipotent  Eeigneth."     Amen. 


* 


I  select  a  few  from  the  many  testimonials  received 
from  several  distinguished  and  esteemed  brethren  : 

Action  of  Central  New  York  Conference. 

Having  read  with  pleasure  the  articles  of  our  dear  brother 
James  Erwin,  contributed  to  the  Northern  Chr{i<tian  Advocate, 
entitled,  "Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit  Life,"  and  it 
being  our  judgment  that  they  ought  to  be  put  in  a  more  per- 
manent form ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  Brother  Erwin  to  publish  the 
same  in  book  form  at  his  earliest  convenience. 

O.   A.  HOWTON, 

M.  S.  Hard, 
L.  C.  Queal, 
Adopted  unanimously.  W.  H.  Annable. 

Rev.  R.  H.  Howard,  D.  D.,  Milbury,  Mass. 
From  Northern  Christian  Advocate. 
Dear  Dr.  -.—Nothing  has  appeared  in  your  paper  for  a  long 
time  (or  in  any  other)  making  more  delightful  and  profitable 
reading  than  Dr.  Erwin's  "  Reminiscences  of  Early  Circuit 
Life."  These  sketches  are  simply  charming— gracefully,  \ig- 
orously  and  eloquently  written,  and  embracing  vivid  portrai- 
tures of  that  far-away  most  romantic  and  heroic  era  of  Me- 
thodism. I  wish  he  would  affix  t\)  his  articles  the  name  of 
his  place  of  residence,  so  that  we  could  thank  him  personally 
for  his  timely  and  excellent  productions.  The  Lord  })le88 
these  oldheroel  of  a  thousand  battles !  What  stirring  associations 
are  awakened  as  we  look  on  one  of  these  noble  superannuates 
—of  battles  fought,  and  victories  won,  of  souls  saved,  sinners 
warned,  the  afflicted  comforted,  and  the  dying  pointed  to  the 
Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world. 


From  flw  Northern  ChrintUin  Advoattf. 

The  (k'sire  forinally  cxpreysed  by  the  Central  New  York 
Conference  that  the  series  of  articles  entitled  "  Reminiscences 
of  Early  C/ircuit  Life,"  by  Kev.  James  Er\vin,pul)lishedin  this 
paper,  should  be  repiil)lishe<l  in  book  form,  is  in  full  accord 
with  the  appreciative  expressions  frequently  received  at  this 
otiice.  The  following,  from  our  able  correspondent,  Rev.  R.  H. 
Howard,  indicates  the  great  satisfaction  which  Brother  Erwin's 
articles  have  given,  and  the  rank  which  would  l>e  accorded  to 
a  book  of  Reminiscences  from  his  pen: 

Dkar  Doctor  Warren  :— 1  desire  again  to  exi)ress  the  inter- 
est I  tiike  in  reading  the  successive  chapters  of  Brother  Er- 
win's itinerant  experiences.  They  are  decidedly  charming. 
Jt  is  but  fair  that  your  readers  should  be  aware  of,  and  appre- 
I'iate  the  fact,  that  in  none  of  all  the  Advocates  of  which  I 
have  the  reading,  is  there  any  strictly  religious  reading  that 
will  for  a  moment  compare  with  these  articles  of  Dr.  Erwin's. 
1  liave  read  nothing  that  equals  them  in  religious  interest 
since  the  far-away  «lays  when  I  read  the  "  Foot-prints  of  an 
Itinerant,"  by  Maxwell  P.  (faddis,  the  first  book  of  a  strictly 
religious  character  to  interest  me.  This  was  some  thirty  years 
ago.  Erwin's  Reminiscences  are  in  no  wise  inferior  to  those 
of  Mr.  Gaddis,  either  on  the  score  of  incident  or  the  literary 
taste,  ability  and  skill  with  which  they  are  written  up. 

Rev.  A.  E.  Corse,  Mohawk,  N.  Y. 

1  want  very  much  to  thank  you,  by  letter,  if  I  cannot  do  it 
rini  voce,  for  those  very  interesting  articles  of  yours  lately 
published  in  the  Xorihern.  They  are  very  readable— besides 
they  are  a  record  of  the  experience  and  toils  of  our  early 
^lethodist  Preachers,  who  are  passing  from  us — a  noble  class 
of  men.  I  hope  you  will  give  us  more  of  your  Reminiscences, 
^lay  the  good  Lord  bless  and  keep  you. 

Rev.  W.  n.  York,  Cincinnatus,  N.  Y. 

Very  Dear  Brother:—!  wish  I  could  tell  you  how  much 
good  your  articles  in  the  N.  C.  Advocate  are  doing  me.  I  hope 
you  will  publish  them  in  book  form.       I  am  sure  they  would 


do  a  great  deal  of  good,  and  have  a  large  sale.  That  the  I^)rd 
may  bless  you  abundantly,  and  spare  you  many  years  to  labor 
in  his  vineyard,  is  the  prayer  of  your  fellow-laborer. 

Rev.  Samuel  Moore,  Wilkes  Barre,  Pa. 
Though  a  stranger  to  you,  yet  I  feel  I  must  thank  you  for 
the  series  of  so  admirably  written  articles,  the  thirteenth  of 
which,  I  have  just  read  in  the  Nortlwrn.  They  do  not  awaken 
recollections  in  my  mind,  for  the  scenes  you  so  graphically 
depict  took  place  before  my  time,  but  they  awaken  the  si)irit 
oi  praise,  and  the  joyous  hallelujah  rises  to  my  lips  while  tears 
will  come,  and  I  do  thank  God  for  the  heroic  days  of  Method- 
ism, and  for  the  heroes  of  those  times.  May  the  Father  spare 
you  long,  and  give  you  a  happy  and  sunny  old  age,  and  an 
iibundant  entrance  into  glory,  is  my  prayer. 

Rev.  a.  W.  Cumminos,  D.  D.,  L.L.D.,  Principal  of 

Riverside  Seminary. 

My  Dear  Brother:— I  am  reading   your  ''Reminiscences 

of  Early  Circuit  Life,"  with  great  interest,  as  I  am  sure  all  are, 

especially  those   who  have   had   the   pleasure  to  know   the 

author.     So  ahead  to  the  end  of  ''  Early  Circuit  Life,"  and 

then  bring  all  out  in  a  volume,  that  will  be  of  great  interest  to 

all  Northern  and  Central  New  Y(»rk  Methodism.     1  pray  that 

God  may  spare  you  to  complete  your  well  begun  work. 

Rev.  J.  H.  M(  Carty,  D.  D.,  F:imira,  N.  Y. 
My  Dear  Brother:— Your  sketches  are  most  admirable.— 
Really  taki)i{f.      Keep  on  and  make  a  book.       They  are  just 
what  we  want  in  these  times  of  dry  discussion  about  the  term 
limit.    They  are  refreshing— soul  stirring.     God  bless  you. 

Rev.  L  S.  Bingham,  D.  D.,  Lowville,  N.  Y. 
My  Dear  Brother:— I  want  to  thank  you  most  heartily  for 
your  "  Reminiscences  "  as  you  are  giving  them  to  us  in  the 
Northern.  I  read  them  with  great  interest  both  for  "  Auld 
lang  syne  "-and  for  the  fact  that  they  are  valuable  fact«5  and 
incidents  gathered  up  out  of  an  almost  forgotten  past.  You 
have  a  httle  the  start  of  me  in  time— and  yet  my  men.ory 


Z    7f     .       ""'""'  ""^  P''"''^'  J""  ^'^  «"«'"!"«  from      I 
am  Blad,  indeed,  that  you  have  undertaken  to  sn^tch^ron 
obhvon  so  many  inci.lents  of  your  Ufe  and  work-that  are   o 
••losely  .nterwoven  with  the  history  of  the  church  fifu-  yea's 
aeo      We  want  the  c.uldren  of  this  generation  to  know  what 
Methodist  preachers  ,lid  fifty  years  ago-an.l  how  the>  dTdTt 
TO  on  y  th  your  good  work.    Multitudes  of  our  older  breZen 
and  Sisters  are  humrrv  for  that  t,-T..i    f        j-       '''^' "^^^^^en 
the  oM  fields  of  youHabts  "-'i-ng-^pecially  in 

Bishop  M.  Simpson,  D.  D.,  L.L.D.,  Philadelphia. 
Written  two  weeks  before  his  death. 
1  am  glad  you  are  writing  Reminiscences,  for  I  pri^e  all  such 
m„sasdat,  for  the  future  historians 'of  ourTurl.Tnd 

tilt  people.     Wishing  you  great  success,  I  am  yours  truly. 


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